Leaders of large St. Louis-area companies are "keeping their thoughts to themselves" regarding a new NFL stadium, and the few who have been "willing to speak on the issue were on either side of the spectrum: enthusiastic supporter or sharp critic," according to Tim Bryant of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Most other responses to inquiries included "generalized comments about efforts to keep the Rams in St. Louis and the proposal to spend" nearly $1B to build an outdoor stadium. Communications consulting firm StandPoint Founder Mack Bradley said that execs who "back the project privately believe it has enough energy behind it to succeed without their public support." But he added that on the other hand, "publicly opposing the project could offend stadium supporters." Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle, whose company owns naming rights to the Rams' current facility, said that he "supports the St. Louis riverfront stadium plan." Weddle: "It's good for the city and the region to be an NFL location." He added that St. Louis stadium task force leader Dave Peacock "has told him corporate support for the stadium plan is 'very strong.'" Weddle said that Edward Jones "might consider naming rights for a new stadium but that discussion of such a deal or its cost is premature." Weddle added that the firm is "doubling the size of its corporate suite at the Jones Dome this year and would occupy a similar suite at a new stadium" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/30).
NO ORDINARY JOE: In St. Louis, Joe Strauss notes Fox broadcaster and St. Louis native Joe Buck last week "kicked dirt at the NFL and called out" Rams Owner Stan Kroenke for looking to move the team to L.A. Buck said, "I don’t know what you would argue with. I didn’t go on some drunken stupor tweeting stuff. I think about it, especially with a hot button such as this. This is big for the region. It’s about more than just the NFL.” He added, "We’re about to lose the NFL for a second time. I don’t know how the story is going to turn out. There are myriad possibilities. It’s been really quiet from St. Louis’ standpoint, but this ball has been rolling for a long time ... longer than people realize, longer than I initially realized.” Buck conceded it "makes sense from Stan’s perspective." He added, "When you step back and look at the timeline and realize how hard a ticket this was when the team was good ... Dome or no Dome, it didn’t seem to matter. As we sit here in 2015, I would agree the stadium isn’t good enough. It doesn’t make fans want to trudge down there. Because of this formula, we’re again going to have St. Louis without the NFL if Stan gets his way.” Buck said he has a "tough time with the notion that fans here don’t support the NFL," noting the team "has not performed for a long time now.” Buck: "The powers that be in the city and Stan played a game of chicken, and neither pulled off the side of the road. Ultimately, Stan has all the power here” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/31).
FULL CHARGE: In San Diego, David Garrick notes the city recently has been portraying the Chargers-Raiders Carson stadium effort "as risky and vulnerable to lawsuits while declaring a competing stadium proposal in Inglewood a superior project." The strategy "aims to convince NFL owners before their Oct. 6 meeting that the Chargers should remain in San Diego because the city has a more viable stadium proposal than the Carson project." Praise for Kroenke's proposed venue is the strategy’s "second leg, because if the owners choose Inglewood over Carson then the Chargers likely couldn’t move" to L.A. without "brokering a deal to share Kroenke’s stadium" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/29).
