New: Latest on Kroenke, Rams and NFL in STL

[12intheBox]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000500732/article/rose-bowl-votes-not-to-be-temporary-nfl-home

The NFL's search for a possible temporary home in the Los Angeles area will no longer include the historic Rose Bowl, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

The stadium's operations team voted 11-0 in favor of blocking a short-term rental by any NFL team looking to enter the market in 2016 or beyond.

The league declined comment on the matter when contacted by Around The NFL.

Per NFL Media's Albert Breer and Steve Wyche, some of the other proposed venues include the L.A. Coliseum, Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and StubHub Center in Carson.

The league is looking for clarity on the situation before an August owner's meeting, which will focus heavily on developments coming out of the Los Angeles market.

At the moment, any proposed stadium projects would take at least three years to build, thus heightening the importance of an eager and welcoming temporary stadium if the league wants to break into Los Angeles any sooner. Per Breer and Wyche, Rams owner Stan Kroenke's building proposal in Inglewood wouldn't be done until 2018. A Raiders/Chargers project in Carson would not be completed until 2019.

 

[The Ripper]

It's not like this is the only year the Rams have been speculated to be moving to LA - those go back several years, and only strengthened even more during and after arbitration

The local media including Bernie and Shane were sill saying the Rams were staying even after the Inglewood land purchase that the team was staying.

 

[The Ripper]

really? how long has SK been holding LA over our heads? when was the last time we seen a winning team? when was the last time Stan did ANYTHING to try to reassure the fans in St Louis?
why is Stan a hero to you and Georgia a demon when he is doing the exact same thing? but these things werent bothering LA fans then? ive heard ALOT of LA fans ripping Georgia for doing what Stans doing right now.

The only action in regards to LA was the land purchase in Inglewood in 2014 and at that time nothing was happening in St Louis to solve the stadium issue. Why does Stan have to reassure the fans? He has tasked Demoff to do that. Spanos isn't addressing the fans in San Diego either, he uses Fabiani.

Kroenke took over the team in 2010. It took a few years to overhaul the front office and what have they done since. Traded the # 2 pick for 6 players that were active last year. The team has also prior to this year , willing to spend money on free agents and as we all know free agency is a gamble. We can debate who he has hired to run the team and the players brought in but the team is willing to spend money to make the Rams a contender. He can't be blamed for Sam Bradford's injuries that kept the franchise player off the field

The situation in Anaheim was completely different. The NFL found that the owner and Rams management directly caused the issues that lead to the team filing for relocation. Starting in 1998 when the Rams lost the lawsuit surrounding the development around the stadium, the team went from being at or above average for player salaries to the bottom which took a playoff team to the cellar with in a few years. The owner took substantial sums from the team in dividends and salary so much so the NFL had to have a special session to discuss the Rams finances. The owner was actively negotiating with 2 cities that she called her hometowns while sabotaging the efforts in Anaheim that included renovations to the stadium, ticket guarantees and a new stadium. Using the press to distribute false financial information to strengthen their public case for relocation. The NFL audited the books. They found that the Rams had significant expenses by Rams management and the owner that couldn't be documented and that they failed to include all Rams revenues in the figures. The team claimed that they were losing money but in fact the team was one of the most profitable teams in the league. Fans in St Louis have the right to be angry at Kroenke but his actions are completely different from what Georgia did. The only common element is the escape clauses that Shaw built into the leases in Anaheim and St Louis.

 

[OldSchool]

Fans in St Louis have the right to be angry at Kroenke but his actions are completely different from what Georgia did. The only common element is the escape clauses that Shaw built into the leases in Anaheim and St Louis.

Might as well save your breath Ripper. Kroenke is the anit-christ, the team hasn't improved under his ownership and we're not set up even better for the future than the Rams have been in decades, we're set up even better now than we were coming out of the SB win. The Rams were very very bad for a few years and it was minority owner Kroenke's fault. The temperatures are rising and California is in a draught and it's Kroenke's fault. We know that the Rams bad years and the fan apathy can be traced back to three people: Georgia Frontierre, John Shaw and Jay Zygmut. But it's easier to put all your hate in one basket and ignore reality and just blame Kroenke.

 

[Corbin]

Might as well save your breath Ripper. Kroenke is the anit-christ, the team hasn't improved under his ownership and we're not set up even better for the future than the Rams have been in decades, we're set up even better now than we were coming out of the SB win. The Rams were very very bad for a few years and it was minority owner Kroenke's fault. The temperatures are rising and California is in a draught and it's Kroenke's fault. We know that the Rams bad years and the fan apathy can be traced back to three people: Georgia Frontierre, John Shaw and Jay Zygmut. But it's easier to put all your hate in one basket and ignore reality and just blame Kroenke.

That is a very accurate post! You are the man sir!

 

[Rmfnlt]

"As for the Rams, their own actions seem to be making their long-term intentions rather clear.

The Rams have continually expanded their community efforts and outreach since Kroenke took over in 2010. As led by Demoff, the organization became the first team in the city’s history to win its Philanthropic of the Year award. The Rams’ community initiatives are some of the league’s most extensive. They have been done in part to grow the “next-generation fan,” according to Brian Killingsworth of the club’s front office. It would seem odd to constantly increase efforts in this community if it were planning to uproot from it."

http://www.101sports.com/2013/07/15/rams-stadium-and-relocation-prospects-not-as-they-seem/


"One would be hard-pressed to find another franchise in all of sports that possesses and exhibits an unyielding commitment to community work in the way that the St. Louis Rams organization does."

http://www.101sports.com/2013/07/02/rams-community-work-puts-future-fan-at-forefront/

Oh, I wish that, for each community event held by the team, they were awarded 7 points per game on offense. Until then, it has no impact on the field and I do not believe it is anything close to a determining factor in the average fan's mind as to whether they intend to buy a ticket or not.

And, I think the other owners and the NFL will see it that way as well... on a scale of 1-10 (where 10 is the most important factor in allowing the Rams to move), I'd peg community involvement at 2. Just my guess.

One other thought... a little out there but I think it deserves thinking about:
Years ago (before all the new regulation), I worked for an outrageously successful finance company that charged near usury rates and excessive fees. Record profits every quarter for like 10 years.

Interestingly enough, they were heavily (and I mean heavily) involved in the United Way and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I mean, to the point that if any employee did not pledge a certain amount of their pay check, they got a visit from their SVP (I got one such visit). The company no longer exists and times have changed.

Back to my thought... I always wondered if their emphasis on charity was a way of them "balancing the moral scales" to help them sleep better at night (the Executives). Like "yeah, we rape and pillage consumers, but LOOK, we give back to the community in droves".

Yeah, the product was hard to consumers to swallow (hmmm... like the Rams teams of late), but the franchise can sleep better at night knowing all the good things they did in the community.

Might the extensive community service be their way of offsetting (ie. admitting) their product isn't very good?

Deep? Yeah... but it's one way to look at the community service angle. Personally, I think it has some merit.

 

[Rmfnlt]

really? how long has SK been holding LA over our heads? when was the last time we seen a winning team? when was the last time Stan did ANYTHING to try to reassure the fans in St Louis?
why is Stan a hero to you and Georgia a demon when he is doing the exact same thing? but these things werent bothering LA fans then? ive heard ALOT of LA fans ripping Georgia for doing what Stans doing right now.

 

[iced]

The local media including Bernie and Shane were sill saying the Rams were staying even after the Inglewood land purchase that the team was staying.

And LA rumors were swirling before that...

by the way I don't want to speak for him but I think Shane still believes most likely the Rams are staying in St.Louis....no idea on Bernie, quit reading his garbage years ago

 

[The Ripper]

why is Stan a hero to you and Georgia a demon

What Georgia did for years is all noted above.

Actively working in the community to develop relationships with other business is key for the team and the NFL. It has nothing to do with covering up for a teams record, it's about building relationship with other business leaders in the community. The other aspect that Shane mentioned is the amount of time and money the Rams put into expanding media coverage throught the Rams territory. It's important because one of this highlight from the executive summary "The market lacks a robust regional area from which to draw individuals and corporations that are not already attending games and purchasing tickets." The Rams have already spent time and money to overcome that problem but it didn't produce results..

 

[ChrisW]

What Georgia did for years for years is all noted above.

Actively working in the community to develop relationships with other business is key for the team and the NFL. It has nothing to do with covering up for a teams record, it's about building relationship with other business leaders in the community. The other aspect that Shane mentioned is the amount of time and money the Rams put into expanding media coverage throught the Rams territory. It's important because one of this highlight from the executive summary "The market lacks a robust regional area from which to draw individuals and corporations that are not already attending games and purchasing tickets." The Rams have already spent time and money to overcome that problem but it didn't produce results..

The market study is correct for the short term. But with a little bit of tradition, the Rams could pull from the whole baseball Cardinals territory.

 

[beej]

The market study is correct for the short term. But with a little bit of tradition, the Rams could pull from the whole baseball Cardinals territory.

YEP! it's amazing what laying down roots in one town for 100 years will do to endear you to fans. As opposed to the whole "coming to a city near you" tour the rams have been doing for the past hundred years.

 

[snackdaddy]

really? how long has SK been holding LA over our heads? when was the last time we seen a winning team? when was the last time Stan did ANYTHING to try to reassure the fans in St Louis?
why is Stan a hero to you and Georgia a demon when he is doing the exact same thing? but these things werent bothering LA fans then? ive heard ALOT of LA fans ripping Georgia for doing what Stans doing right now.

Well, if anyone could empathize what St. Louis fans are going through I suppose it would be LA fans.

 

[dbrooks25]

Blocking Kahn from buying the team? That's a joke. How come the previous owners didn't publicly acknowledge Kreonke's right of first refusal? He was ALREADY an owner.

Kroenke's right of first refusal was acknowledged. When Chip and Lucia entered into an agreement to sell to Kahn, Stan had 60 days to decide what he wanted to do with his share of the franchise, which included purchasing Chip and Lucia's share, and we know how that ended. Also, many thought he wouldn't exercise his right due to the cross- ownership violation. Stan was an owner, but a minority owner with a 40% share.

 

[iced]

Might as well save your breath Ripper. Kroenke is the anit-christ, the team hasn't improved under his ownership and we're not set up even better for the future than the Rams have been in decades, we're set up even better now than we were coming out of the SB win. The Rams were very very bad for a few years and it was minority owner Kroenke's fault. The temperatures are rising and California is in a draught and it's Kroenke's fault. We know that the Rams bad years and the fan apathy can be traced back to three people: Georgia Frontierre, John Shaw and Jay Zygmut. But it's easier to put all your hate in one basket and ignore reality and just blame Kroenke.

Guess the fans should just ignore the reality of Kroenke's actions towards the fan base this off season

"Hey screw you guys, but still support me!"

Yep, must be the fans fault for supporting a consistently lousy and playoff irrelevant product with an owner who has given the finger to the city and is the only owner refusing to meet with the city. Yep, must be the season ticket holders' fault too since some corp. sales don't want to renew without a commitment from Stan - because even putting off that kind of perception would be bad for sales.

 

[Rmfnlt]

What Georgia did for years is all noted above.

Actively working in the community to develop relationships with other business is key for the team and the NFL. It has nothing to do with covering up for a teams record, it's about building relationship with other business leaders in the community. The other aspect that Shane mentioned is the amount of time and money the Rams put into expanding media coverage throught the Rams territory. It's important because one of this highlight from the executive summary "The market lacks a robust regional area from which to draw individuals and corporations that are not already attending games and purchasing tickets." The Rams have already spent time and money to overcome that problem but it didn't produce results..

If one of the reasons they do community service is to strengthen relationships with business leaders, they seem to be throwing all that effort into the tiolet by leaving those very same people twisting in the wind like a piece of laundry.

The term "window dressing" come to my mind.

 

[snackdaddy]

Kroenke is the weirdo owner?

Ron Jeremy owns the Jaguars? Who woulda thunk?

 

[Loyal]

Ron Jeremy owns the Jaguars? Who woulda thunk?

No..Ron Jeremy coaches for the Niners.........

 

[The Ripper]

Guess the fans should just ignore the reality of Kroenke's actions towards the fan base this off season

"Hey screw you guys, but still support me!"

Yep, must be the fans fault for supporting a consistently lousy and playoff irrelevant product with an owner who has given the finger to the city and is the only owner refusing to meet with the city. Yep, must be the season ticket holders' fault too since some corp. sales don't want to renew without a commitment from Stan - because even putting off that kind of perception would be bad for sales.

You can blame on field performance but ignore that over the last 3 years the Rams have improved just like the rest of the division. There was no one initiating anything prior to last November so who was he supposed to call. Nixon and Slay both waited till after last falls election to start publicly speaking about a solution to the stadium issues. Rumors causing businesses not to commit my be true for last year and this year but not the rest. It's not rumors that caused issues prior to Kroenke purchasing the land it was the uncertainty that existed. You can also blame Kroenke for not speaking but no one else was either.

 

[bluecoconuts]

YEP! it's amazing what laying down roots in one town for 100 years will do to endear you to fans. As opposed to the whole "coming to a city near you" tour the rams have been doing for the past hundred years.

So they're supposed to wait 100 years and become a constant powerhouse if they want to consistently fill the stadium? That's not very reassuring..

 

[Rmfnlt]

So they're supposed to wait 100 years and become a constant powerhouse if they want to consistently fill the stadium? That's not very reassuring..

L.A. will make that a reality, won't it? (it is supposed to cure all their problems, as best I can tell)