NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman on Thursday said that local planners "must build a new football stadium" in St. Louis, or the city "will not hold on to its franchise," according to a front-page piece by David Hunn of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Grubman came to St. Louis on Thursday to meet with Gov. Jay Nixon’s two-man stadium team of Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz, and he "confirmed, for the first time by a league official," that Rams Owner Stan Kroenke is "indeed 'looking' elsewhere" to build a new stadium for the club. Grubman: "I’m not going to get into specifics, other than he has said he’s going to keep his options open and he’s looking." He added, "We’re looking for a solution to the St. Louis Rams to be the St. Louis Rams, not for some other team to be the St. Louis Rams." Grubman, when asked if a new stadium is necessary, said, "Yes." He said that the NFL "must have a solution" in St. Louis soon, "certainly by the end of the year." Grubman asked of St. Louis' stadium plan, "Can you assemble the site? Can you assemble the financing? And can a business plan be put together, collectively, by all of us, that’s attractive?” Grubman: “This is a great sports market. It’s been a terrific football market” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/16).
NFL WANTS RAMS TO STAY PUT: In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz writes his "primary takeaways" from a 25-minute Q&A with Grubman. First, the city must "firm up plans to build a new stadium." It would also "be smart to act quickly" to bring that stadium initiative to fruition. Grubman said, “We need to get this project to the point where it’s actionable this calendar year. ... This is not a scenario where we’re going to sit back and say ‘Tell us when you’re ready.’ We’re going to come in and do as much as we can to help them. That’s why we’re here.” Grubman indicated that the NFL would "like the Rams to remain in St. Louis." Miklasz notes even though Kroenke is a partner in the latest stadium start-up in L.A., he "hasn’t told the NFL that he wants to move the Rams there." Grubman "disagrees with the 'too little, too late' theory being espoused by those that assume the Rams are bound" for L.A. Grubman insisted that all owners will "follow the league rules on franchise relocation -- Kroenke included." Miklasz: "I believe that Grubman is sincerely trying to provide guidance to Peacock and Blitz, and that his interest in the STL stadium project is genuine. The NFL is getting involved here, and that’s encouraging." A new stadium is the "only shot St. Louis has to stay in the NFL, but it doesn’t ensure that the Rams will be forced to remain here or that another team would move in to fill the void" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/16).
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? In St. Louis, Jim Thomas notes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell personally called Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones this week to "get clarification on Jones’ comments" to the N.Y. Times suggesting Kroenke "can move the Rams to Los Angeles if he wants -- with or without league approval." Grubman said that Goodell "didn’t talk to Jones in a critical way, but simply asked him what he meant by his comments." Grubman: “It quickly became obvious that there’s nothing really here." In summary, Grubman "characterized Jones’ remarks as a stray comment that needed to be put to bed." Grubman said, “Everybody’s gonna follow the rules” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/16).
