St. Louis' FANS Inc. dropped its target date of December 1
to conclude negotiations with the Rams. FANS spokesperson Tom
Eagleton said some "vital issues remain which will take
additional time to resolve." The announcement is "a significant
about face for FANS in less than three weeks time," as Eagleton
said on November 11 that a deal should be done by December 1.
Negotiations apparently are bogged down on details "involving the
stadium lease and stadium operations." Some members of FANS are
also worried about the Permanent Seat Licensing plan, which would
begin in January, questioning whether buyers will be willing to
spend after the holidays. FANS is now considering beginning the
PSL sales campaign sooner, even before any announcement from the
Rams, with the money to be refunded if the Rams don't come to St.
Louis (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/30).
BANK OFFERS INCENTIVE TO RAMS: Heartland Mortgage, a
division of Heartland Savings Bank of St. Louis, is offering all
Rams personnel and employees a "special residential mortgage
program" if the team moves to the city. Heartland will waive its
normal application fee of $325 and a discout of one-half point.
Heartland sales manager Bryan Tucker: "In some small way, it
shows some more support from St. Louis" (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS
POST-DISPATCH, 11/30).
