Future of Edward Jones Dome?

[Conor Ryan]

The Rams just announced plans to build & move to a stadium in Los Angeles
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la...ry.html#page=1

As fantastic as the Dome is for FRC (now that FTC and FLL are moving cross town), what could this mean about the long term plan to stay in St Louis? Currently FIRST is committed through 2017.

I really hope it doesn't go the way of the Astrodome (after the Astros moved out).

[Bongle]

The optimistic outlook is that this is just sabre-rattling by the Rams' owner as he tries to get the city of St Louis to pay for stadium upgrades or a new stadium entirely.

This is a pretty common tactic by big sports teams - they threaten to move, and no politician wants to be the guy that let Local Sports Team leave, so they end up extracting huge piles of money from cities that often can't afford it. By making their threat of leaving more credible, the Rams are hoping to get better concessions from the city.

You can see more analysis from that viewpoint on deadspin: http://deadspin.com/report-rams-owne...d-l-1677488994

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Bongle

The optimistic outlook is that this is just sabre-rattling by the Rams' owner as he tries to get the city of St Louis to pay for stadium upgrades or a new stadium entirely.

This is a pretty common tactic by big sports teams - they threaten to move, and no politician wants to be the guy that let Local Sports Team leave, so they end up extracting huge piles of money from cities that often can't afford it. By making their threat of leaving more credible, the Rams are hoping to get better concessions from the city.

Exactly they want about $800 Million in upgrades, the negotiations are about $540 million apart. With the St. Louis population the team wants $2,100 per person.

Which means about $800 million that won't go into schools, infrastructure, etc.

All the major sports teams do this. In the Philly area the two new stadiums won't be paid off until 2050.

[Koko Ed]

To me it would be like the situation in San Antonio with the Alamodome. There is no NFL team there but they have no plans to demolish the arena. I doubt they would demolish the Jones Dome. In fact they would probably want the championship there even more to have something there.

[The_ShamWOW88]

Currently, the news is that the Rams owner, Stan Kroenke, and his real estate firm are planning a stadium in Inglewood, CA. The Rams have yet to publicly state they are moving their team there. They are still negotiating with St. Louis for updates to the Dome.

[Wayne Doenges]

Move the Championships to Indiananpolis, IN

[Jimmy Nichols]

Even if they do move, it would take a couple years to actually build a new stadium and the infrastructure for the team to move.

[wilderbuchanan]

Move championship to Staple Center and Los Angeles Convention Cent?

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

For the next 4 years min, this is a non issue. Business, politics, and construction all take time, and even if this does become a reality, the Rams won't have moved until well after FIRST's contract with EJD is over.

Story still in speculation mode.

[dodar]

Well dont the St Louis Blues play there too? So the stadium would stay kept up, right?

[nikeairmancurry]

Originally Posted by dodar

Well dont the St Louis Blues play there too? So the stadium would stay kept up, right?

Blue's play in a arena down by Busch Stadium.

[catacon]

Originally Posted by dodar

Well dont the St Louis Blues play there too? So the stadium would stay kept up, right?

Originally Posted by nikeairmancurry

Blue's play in a arena down by Busch Stadium.

The Blues play at the Scottrade Center.

[XaulZan11]

According to several reports, the Rams are looking to move to LA by 2016 before their new stadium is finished in 2018. I'm not sure how much the stadium will degrade in one year. I think the biggest take away is that it is looking unlikely FIRST will hold the championship in St. Louis after 2017. If the Rams cannot agree with the city by the end of this month on stadium upgrades and goes to a year to year contract, FIRST better start looking at other options.

[Nemo]

Huge public money going into expensive stadiums bothers me. I wish cities negotiated better deals for themselves. I'll spare everyone the long rant, but I could easily produce one on this topic.

[KPSch]

This may all be a moot point. FIRST has a contract to hold their championship event in Saint Louis at the Edward Jones Dome through 2017. 2018 and beyond is still up in the air, Rams or no Rams.