The law firm repping the St. Louis Regional Convention Authority -- Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch -- had as of the end of December already billed the authority $27,982.50 "for work on the new stadium," while architecture firm HOK "charged the Authority $50,495.44 on Dec. 30" for work on the proposed NFL venue, according to David Hunn of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The authority, which runs Edward Jones Dome and is evaluating new stadium options, has since "authorized the hiring of or payments to more than a dozen firms." They have "signed architects, engineers, surveyors, planners, contract attorneys, tax attorneys and bond attorneys to contracts" totaling at least $40M. Contractors "have already invoiced the Authority for about $800,000, all toward the development of a stadium that may never be built." More than half of the money invoiced so far -- about $380,000 -- "is to pay architects HOK." If the stadium is built, that contract "is worth" $39M. Venue-management firm SMG "will get about $200,000 to analyze the St. Louis market, compare the market to other NFL cities, develop a five-year stadium operating plan, project Rams net operating income and expenses, identify other stadium revenue sources, provide a 30-year capital improvement schedule, and develop an NFL negotiations strategy, among other things." One contract is still free: PR firm FleishmanHillard "is donating up to $75,000 in fees, and hasn’t yet billed the Authority." In addition, Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz, who are leading St. Louis' stadium efforts, said that their individual services "are free" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/30).
LOSING THEIR CHARGE? Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani said of the chances of building a new downtown, multipurpose stadium/convention center annex in San Diego at this point, "Too much time has gone by to revisit it now. We made a proposal in 2011 and the city rejected it. We made a proposal in 2013 and the city and coastal commission rejected it. We even made one in 2015. It’s really hard to see how to revive it, it’s been rejected so much. I guess anything’s possible." In San Diego, Nick Canepa writes, "Too much politicking going on downtown. The hoteliers don’t want it there." As of yesterday, the chance of San Diego landing a new NFL stadium "appears doomed." Canepa: "There have been no positives." As far as building a stadium where Qualcomm Stadium currently is situated, the problem is enough fill dirt "must be brought in to raise the 166 acres to level with Friars Road." It has "been estimated that it could cost" up to $500M. Canepa: "Deal breaker" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/30).
