NationsBank's $9B acquisition of Boatmen's Bancshares Inc.
could have an effect on the Blues, Kiel Center, Rams and
Cardinals, according to Josh Gotthelf of the ST. LOUIS BUSINESS
JOURNAL. Boatmen's, which contributed an estimated $2.9M into
the Blues and Kiel Center in '95, is one of the "Big Four"
members of the Kiel Center Partners, holding about a 12% stake in
the arena and the club. The other members are Anheuser-Busch,
Emerson Electric and Southwestern Bell and together, the four
control almost 50% of the group, while 15 other member companies
hold remaining shares. This past spring, Boatmen's signed a
multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with the Cardinals to
remain a major sponsor of the team. The agreement includes
signage, luxury boxes, group ticket packages, scoreboard
advertising, radio and TV broadcast sponsorship and the right to
place ATM's throughout Busch Stadium. Boatmen's is also a "gold
level" sponsor with the Rams and the bank is in the second year
of a five-year deal in which it pays "well into six figures" for
a large signage package at the TWA Dome, commercials on the
stadium scoreboard, a luxury suite and the right to run
promotions during the game. Further, the bank is a member of
Civic Progress, a civic group that has guaranteed the Rams
revenue from at least 85% of luxury suites and club seats.
NationsBank Senior VP Jim Nash noted the bank's role in the Kiel
Partners "won't be known" until the Boatmen's deal is
consummated. However, he said the bank plans to honor prior
Boatmen's prior commitments to the Cardinals and Rams (ST. LOUIS
BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/9). FEELING THE BLUES? Calling this a
"make-or-break" season for Blues President Jack Quinn and GM/Head
Coach Mike Keenan, Tom Wheatley of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
examines how the departure of Wayne Gretzky and trade rumors
involving Brett Hull have effected ticket renewal rates.
According to Blues VP/Sales Bruce Affleck, last year the club
sold about 14,000 season tickets and 90% have been renewed for
'96-97, compared to 92% the year before and 94-95% in previous
years (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/11).
