St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay yesterday said that he "would not call for a public vote" on a new downtown football stadium for the Rams, "nor would he appeal a judge’s decision invalidating the city ordinance requiring such a vote," according to David Hunn of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Slay added that an NFL team is "so important to the region and its residents, the city does not have to break even on its investment in the new stadium." He said, “Having an NFL team in a city is really, I think, a huge amenity. It’s one of the things that make living in a big city fun. ... I’m not going to sit here and say that we can prove that money going into this -- that we’re going to get out, in dollars and cents, what we’re putting into it.” He promised that the city’s Board of Aldermen "would get a vote on all parts of the new stadium’s funding -- as soon as next month." Slay said that he "took a back seat willingly" and let Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon "lead the charge" for a new stadium. He added that he has been "happy with Nixon’s leadership" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/6).
TAKING THE INITIATIVE: In L.A., Nathan Fenno cites campaign finance reports as showing the Chargers and Raiders "invested almost $900,000 in a ballot initiative to fast-track their proposed stadium" in Carson, Calif. That is "about half the amount spent for a similar approval by the rival stadium project in Inglewood" backed by Rams Owner Stan Kroenke. The Chargers "contributed $466,000 to the campaign -- known as Carson2gether -- and the Raiders kicked in $424,000." Each team "funded the organization with $375,000 in cash," with "non-monetary contributions" making up the balance (L.A. TIMES, 8/6).
SITTIN' ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY: In San Jose, Mark Purdy writes he does not see how any public official connected to the Raiders and A's stadium pursuits can "escape ridicule." Purdy: "I totally grasp why [Raiders Owner] Mark Davis and [A's co-Owner] Lew Wolff must resist an urge to rip out their hair after engaging with East Bay legislators." One "popular narrative is that the Raiders are seeking to push the A's out of Oakland, and vice versa." The Raiders "don't want the A's to leave," and the A's "don't want the Raiders to leave." But both teams are "finding it harder to believe that Oakland can come up with a strategy to retain both franchises." Purdy: "Given the bureaucratic mud pit officials have created for themselves, I'm beginning to wonder if Oakland can even retain one" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/6).
