New: Latest on Kroenke, Rams and NFL in STL

[den-the-coach]

This year is going to be crazy. This is just getting started.

But we're built ram tough!

 

[Goose]

View: https://twitter.com/andybankertv/status/572435986317115393



View: https://twitter.com/andybankertv/status/572437769307308032



View: https://twitter.com/andybankertv/status/572438381596045313



View: https://twitter.com/andybankertv/status/572439190140370944

 

[RamFan503]

The new renderings reflect input received over the past seven weeks from the NFL and St. Louis Rams, as well as key stakeholders in the project including Ameren, the Terminal Railroad Association, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others.

Funny how the other tweet left out the Rams themselves as having input. Probably no chance that the media wants to shroud this thing in an us vs them drama - eh. Nah - couldn't be.

Anyway, pretty encouraging info for St Louis fans. I'd still like to see maybe a different pitch on the seating so it could box in the fan noise and get the upper seats more over the field but I really love the riverfront location. My dad always said that they rarely make new waterfront properties so if you can get one - get it.

I can tell you that I would much rather go check out this stadium and be able to check out St Louis While there than go to LA. Partly because I have never been to St Louis and have spent plenty of time in LA but also that freaking location looks awesome.

 

[ZigZagRam]

Ok got it!

At least we know the Rams are going to play in a new shiny stadium in a couple of years. That alone is exciting no matter where you live.

It's not exciting to me if I can't go see them every Sunday.

 

[RamFan503]

Would you mind posting links to the stories you're posting?

Agreed - it is good form anyway to give credit to the source.

 

[Angry Ram]

Was looking at satellite images of that area, seems like a whole lot of graffiti laden abandoned buildings w/ broken windows. IF this stadium can actually be built, would improve that area quite a bit with all the greenery. You'd have the casino next to it as well.

I'm wondering tho, do those old buildings have any historical significance or will they just be demolished?

 

[bluecoconuts]

Well, you can erase any doubt about Goldman Sachs' commitment to the Carson project.

Goldman to bankroll Chargers’ move

The Chargers and Raiders say they’ll build in Carson, Calif., if they do not reach deals in their current homes.

Goldman Sachs will finance the San Diego Chargers’ prospective move to Los Angeles, including covering any operating losses suffered by the team in the first few years in that city as well as costs for any renovations needed in a temporary venue, sources said last week.

The Chargers and Oakland Raiders announced last week they would build a $1.7 billion stadium in Carson, Calif., assuming they are unable to reach deals for new venues in their respective cities. At the Carson announcement, Goldman Sachs’ Tim Romer spoke about the financial viability of the project and using the same financing structure deployed by the San Francisco 49ers to fund Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/02/Finance/Goldman-Chargers.aspx

This article is weird, first they say they are, then at the bottom they say if they do.

This whole stadium situation is going to give people in STL and LA heart attacks by the time it's over. I mean freak seriously. Kevin Demoff is on Twitter and he is likeing pics of the riverfront stadium. Kevin is a puppet of Kroenkes. So does Kroenke like the stadium? wtf man lol

Its his job to do that man, gotta sell seats right?

 

[RamFan503]

I'm wondering tho, do those old buildings have any historical significance or will they just be demolished?

It is supposed to be a mix. Some of the more significant (historically) buildings will be renovated and/or repurposed. The revitalizing of that area may be one of the huge selling points to the politicians and even the voters if it comes to that.

 

[Dagonet]

Here's a better wrap-up of today's news and more info on the consultants.

It really sounds like this thing is gaining serious traction.

New photos of St. Louis’ NFL stadium released, task force adds consultants
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2015/03/new-photos-of-st-louis-nfl-stadium-released-task.html?s=print

The St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority has hired five new consultants to help develop the planned NFL stadium along St. Louis' north riverfront.

Those consultants include Barrett Sports Group, located in Manhattan Beach, California; Columbia Capital Management, from Overland Park, Kansas; St. Louis-based Downtown Now Inc.; SMG, based out of Philadelphia, and St. Louis-based FleishmanHillard. (For more on each consultant scroll to the end of this article.)

The consultants join facility construction consultant John Lloyd, who was announced as the project's first consultant in February.

Requests for proposals for the development of the stadium also are expected to be released this week.

Local and state officials are pushing a plan for a new 64,000-seat open-air stadium that would cost between $900 million and $1 billion. Half that money would come from public sources, with the other half coming from the NFL and an NFL team owner.

Separately, St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has plans to build a $2 billion NFL stadium in Inglewood, California. Those plans have been approved by local officials, and construction can now begin at Kroenke's go-ahead, although the NFL hasn't yet approved the move of any team to the Los Angeles area.

A task force led by former Anheuser-Busch President Dave Peacock is working to keep the Rams in St. Louis with the construction of the new stadium.

"Across the board, we've assembled a team of best-in-class consultants who understand our opportunity and vision, and who've been there and done this before," Peacock said. "Bringing these experts together is further evidence of our sincerity to keep the Rams in St. Louis and the progress we've made in those efforts in just the past several weeks."

Here's more on the newly hired consultants:

• Barrett Sports Group (BSG) is a sports management consulting firm that will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of NFL stadium deal structures and leases, and will assist in developing cash flow models for the new stadium and the team. Taking the lead will be Dan Barrett, founder and principal of the group, who has worked on numerous NFL stadium projects for the public sector and teams, including New Atlanta Falcons Stadium, CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Invesco Field at Mile in Denver and Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

• Columbia Capital Management is a municipal adviser that will provide guidance on funding strategies to develop the financing plan for a new stadium.

• Downtown Now is the development entity aligned with Downtown STL Inc., a community based organization devoted to increasing investment in downtown St. Louis through public/private partnership. The lead will be Doug Woodruff, president of both organizations, who has extensive real estate development experience and has been involved wiht the stadium project from the beginning, officials said. He'll be responsible for land assemblage on behalf of the RSA.

• The St. Louis headquarters office of international communications firm FleishmanHillard will provide communications support, content and strategy to the task force. St. Louisan Jim Woodcock, co-lead of the firm's global sports practice, will take the lead. Woodcock has extensive marketing and communications experience with NFL league executives and ownership, as well as on stadium projects in the NFL and other sports.

• SMG, a private facility management company, will provide pre-development consulting services, including developing economic modeling and forecasting for the new stadium project and reviewing the project's conceptual and schematic design. The lead will be SMG Executive Vice President Doug Thornton, who is based at the Mercedes-BenzSuperdome in New Orleans where he led the $225 million rebuilding effort after Hurricane Katrina. He oversees SMG's Stadium and Arena properties and has been a leader in producing Super Bowls, Men's and Women's NCAA Final Fours, BCS Championship football games and many other major events.

First, @ZigZagRam thanks for posting all the articles with links to them this morning. Much appreciated man..

I for one am glad to see these groups involved, especially, SMG and Fleishman Hillard. Things are getting more serious and going to be interesting to see how this is played out.. I'm hoping the best for both cities involved.

 

[ZigZagRam]

This article is weird, first they say they are, then at the bottom they say if they do.

The sentence at the end was a reference to other sources who have spoken about Goldman Sachs potential involvement prior to them coming out and saying what's highlighted in this article.

There's no longer an IF in that regard.

 

[ZigZagRam]

First, @ZigZagRam thanks for posting all the articles with links to them this morning. Much appreciated man..

I for one am glad to see these groups involved, especially, SMG and Fleishman Hillard. Things are getting more serious and going to be interesting to see how this is played out.. I'm hoping the best for both cities involved.

My pleasure! It's been a promising news day for the Rams from the beautiful new renderings to the social media acknowledgement from Kevin Demoff.

 

[beej]

You know what would be cool? If they could design a way to be able to spike the ball in the Mississippi River in the end zone so that the front row of fans get all wet-in my best chris Farley voice.

 

[bluecoconuts]

The sentence at the end was a reference to other sources who have spoken about Goldman Sachs potential involvement prior to them coming out and saying what's highlighted in this article.

There's no longer an IF in that regard.

The first part is speculation as well though isn't it? There hasn't been any official word. Last time an article saying the firm was paying for it, it ended up being false, they just work with their accounting or something and have for years. Was there an official announcement elsewhere?

 

[Dagonet]

You know what would be cool? If they could design a way to be able to spike the ball in the Mississippi River in the end zone so that the front row of fans get all wet-in my best chris Farley voice.

Cool...

 

[ZigZagRam]

The first part is speculation as well though isn't it? There hasn't been any official word. Last time an article saying the firm was paying for it, it ended up being false, they just work with their accounting or something and have for years. Was there an official announcement elsewhere?

Kaplan isn't one to throw stuff out there.

 

[RamFan503]

Kaplan isn't one to throw stuff out there.

I'm not sure anyone is beyond that in all of this circus. But I think like Grubman is advising, St Louis needs to work on keeping the Rams. The rest is what it is. And from the looks of things, the city and state is doing just that and my guess is that this stadium in St Louis will only evolve more to being quite an amazing fan experience on the banks of the ole Miss.

 

[Angry Ram]

It is supposed to be a mix. Some of the more significant (historically) buildings will be renovated and/or repurposed. The revitalizing of that area may be one of the huge selling points to the politicians and even the voters if it comes to that.

Interesting. The train station and power plant could be a cool part of the stadium atmosphere.

 

[ZigZagRam]

View: https://twitter.com/Frank_Cusumano/status/572483102309797889


Six times! Wow! Now we're talking bells and whistles.

 

[RamFan503]

Interesting. The train station and power plant could be a cool part of the stadium atmosphere.

I think at least the Power Plant building is.

 

[Username]

Was looking at satellite images of that area, seems like a whole lot of graffiti laden abandoned buildings w/ broken windows. IF this stadium can actually be built, would improve that area quite a bit with all the greenery. You'd have the casino next to it as well.

I'm wondering tho, do those old buildings have any historical significance or will they just be demolished?

It's pretty much all shit. That's one of the main reasons they're choosing to build there.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_0a858490-b7b8-5104-8e1a-92863cbbaece.html
From one of Bernies older articles.

1. “The project’s got to be sited on land that will result in the eradication of existing blight as well as establish a location that wouldn’t be developed in the foreseeable future but for the stadium project,” Nixon said.

Comment: This sure sounds like a description of the northern riverfront.

The stadium would be part of the project to revitalize the Arch grounds and riverfront too.