Rams officials and local negotiators have been working on "a proposal for an open-air stadium along the St. Louis riverfront," according to sources cited by Bryan Burwell of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. While Rams Owner Stan Kroenke "might be reclusive publicly, he has not been a recluse with the men trying to put together a deal" to keep the club in St. Louis, as team officials and local negotiators have had a "constant dialogue all along." The "silence from local negotiators does not mean they haven’t been working feverishly to put a deal together." While a retractable-roofed stadium "isn’t out of the question, the open-air stadium proposal seems to be the one that local deal makers think makes the most sense both financially and politically." No one is "naïve enough to rule out that Kroenke could have his eyes on relocating" to L.A., but there are "so many hurdles that still need to be removed to make sense of the idea" (STLTODAY.com, 10/14). ESPN's Chris Mortensen said momentum "continues to build for NFL team relocation to Los Angeles, and the Rams," who left L.A. for St. Louis in '95, "are prominently mentioned as a leading candidate." Kroenke has "Missouri and L.A. roots, and the Rams can walk without obligation after this season." Mortensen: "It's always complicated. The NFL still wants Kroenke to settle cross ownership conflicts. Sources say he also has the detractors over issues such as relocation fees, land acquisition and future Super Bowl hosting opportunities. Kroenke is one of the NFL's wealthiest owners" (“Monday Night Countdown,” ESPN, 10/13).
FAIR TRADE OFF? ESPN’s Mike Golic said of the NFL possibly forcing Super Bowl host teams to play in London, “I would say veterans may not want to do that, but if you're a kid looking to play football, you'll go play wherever. As far as players not wanting to play, there will be plenty of players that will say, ‘I'm going to play in the NFL even if the team is in London.’” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg added, “A lot of powerful owners are saying, ‘I don't want my team in London.’” Golic: “I understand the NFL wanting to globalize, but I think of the other sports that we talk about like baseball and basketball. I don't think it’s going to happen like that. You just don't see American football in a lot of places around the world, or at least at a higher level” ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 10/14).
