I think we've spent enough on them. Any stipulation that the Dome be in the top 25% of the league should be matched by a requirement that the team be, I don't know, maybe at least in the top HALF of the league?

Everyone looks at this as a subsidy to the Rams, but the Rams don't own the dome. Whether they are here or not the facility will remain. The team, as a leasing tenant, may pay for a portion of the upgrades of a facility owned by the St. Louis Regional Sports Authority, an entity created by Missouri state statute.
This is a matter keeping a piece of infrastructure in the top tier in order to attract events. Of course it's debatable whether that's something the region should finance, but tying this to the teams poor on-field performance is foolish. Would the inverse be true?

St Louis could have BOUGHT the Rams for only $ 200 million but politicians GAVE THEM OUR MONEY to the tune of at least $ 240 million. A law was passed in St Louis City (county also, I think) that OUTLAWED giving tax breaks or money to businesses or sports teams or both. But a judge threw it out IN ONLY ONE CASE cause the law was passed after the idea of giving money to the sports teams was already discussed but not finalized. The Judge in this case was EVIL. This is unconstitutional. The Boston Tea Party happened BECAUSE a tax on tea was given to The East India Trading Company. The company had rights to EVERYTHING in India BUT because of CORRUPTION, it could NOT make a profit. SOMEONE PLEASE. FILE LAWSUITS, PLEASE.

Bye-bye, Rammies!

No to a new facility for the Rams!

No way. What an extreme waste of money and complete disregard for the difficult situations most Americans are in.

Kronke has the money to build his own stadium, let him build it! People despise owners like Jerry Jones and George Steinbrenner, but they spend their own money! The Cowboys Stadium cost 1.2 billion, 900 mill was pt up by JJ, 300 mill by the city of Arlington. Arlington had their money back within one year!
The present EJ Dome will end up costing 720 mill, after 30 years of payments, now we're supposed to approve another 700 mill to be financed? Plus the 500 mill in lost revenue during construction! Also, I believe there will be a new tax on the November ballot to raise 500+million for Arch grounds improvements. Where will it end?

Also, Kronke is in a spot also, he can't just move back to L.A. There is already an NFL group there trying to get a team, so he's have to sell to them or buy them out.

No way. Money would be better spent on helping poor people find homes or pay gas bills, etc. Silly to even imagine that St. Louis would agree to that massive amount of money "We" taxpayers would end up paying.

do not give them anything . poeple are losing there jobs, while there getting richer, let them pay for there own needs. they got more money then us.

absolutely not!! eonough of public money spent on foolishness...the cardinals are the draw in downtown not the rams....look at all the sports teams kroenke owns....let him go build his own stadium....he married into the walmart fortune and certainily has taken advantage of it...and personally.....not a nice guy....

People are jumping the gun, eventually cooler heads will prevail. Kroenke gave the city his best offer now they get to play hardball, also Kroenke is in a great situation to move the team to LA, he sits on the commission to get a stadium built in LA

Oh yeah, the current dome design sucks and the new offer is really appealing, but the city cant afford to pay half of that let alone all 700 million

If the city had that kind of money, there are literally hundreds of better ways for it to be spent. I say tell them goodby.

Just viewing it from a business standpoint, a more positive position monetarily would be to set out to attract more convention activity to the dome to boost incomes both to the facility and to the downtown business opportunity. This would require a more sensible investment in the dome, the city, and the general area and stand off the sickening and repeated threat of "If you don't get down on your financial knees for us we'll take our toys (Sports venue) and run"! With a city that has an outstanding attraction of parks, zoo, and attractions that could be heavily promoted to longer staying convention attendees would make a much more solid community investment. As an aside these visitors could also be invited to attend the games of the World Series winning Cardinals and the newly invested St Louis Blues Hockey team. Further, heavily investing in a poorly performing football team along with the serious physical injury issues that the NFL is facing may further escalate negative attention and could certainly not win high marks as a stock investment

This is a long way from being finalized. Having professional sports teams not only provides economic benefits (jobs/tourism/taxes) to the region it also provides a way for the area to get it's name out there. Think of all the exposure St. Louis got during last years World Series run. The Arch was all over national (world wide) tv and media. In the end this will probably be about a $400 million upgrade that only half would be paid for by taxpapyers. $200m is still alot of money. This is why the process was suppose to be confidential as you have people telling the team to pack up and the process has just started. I say wait until an (if) agreement is reached and then decide.

Another no (no more money for the dome from the taxpayer). Why not give the dome and it's mortgage to the Rams and let them do what they want with it.
If they want to move out of town because we don't come up with more cash, I'll help them pack.

I'm with most everyone here who says "no way". Think of it this way: the population of the St. Louis area is 2.8 million people. The Rams want a $700 million gift from us. That's $250 per person! Are they out of their cotton picking minds? Last time I checked, the Rams were a private business. Let them succeed or fail like any other private business! Say no to corporate welfare! If we had that kind of money, there really are far more worthwhile projects we could do.

I say no also. I believe someone said that when we built the dome, we could have bought the team with the same money. I would be suprised if the Rams are even worth $700 million. Again, buying the team would be cheaper. Not that it's for sale. But if the city puts $700 million into a stadium, doesn't that increase the price of the team if it were to be sold, even if the team doesn't own the facility?

Never, Never,NEVER. Just leave town and take your sulking attitude with you. We have already been stung by you for millions. The saying, "Never again", applies here.

I am curious as to how much the no, never, leave posters would be willing to spend? Is it zero dollars or another amount?

The Rams have only had 3 winning seasons in the last 22 years, and we are expected to pay this much just to bring some extra sunshine into the Dome for 10 games per year? Vote NO to extortion.

very nice, let the Rams go and St. Louis becomes second class to Kansas City

I don't feel they have earned that monies, any way why not have the people that own them put their monies where they want the dome, the team has been a big disappointment for us,they have not played well since Curt and Dick.

NOWAY That Dome is great!!If The Rams Feel it isn't then maybe they should pay to improve it. They play there!!! The team has the money to do the upgrades. The City of St. Louis got stuck the first time building it and now they want a whole new stadium. Thats crazy. Its like most people are barely affording to get by and The Rams want the people who don't go to see these games because they can't afford them to update it. Why not ask the people who go and pay for those psl's and stuff to update there space. If the Rams want this they should pay for it.

It seems that people have forgotten that voters passed initiative referendums in both the city and the county that prohibit both entities from giving any public money to a professional sports facility without first having a vote of the people. The city and county approved public funding that went into the newest Busch Stadium just before the two propositions passed. I doubt that voters in either the city and county would approve at a time when basic services are taking a hit. I certainly wouldn't. If the government found an extra $700 million somewhere and gave it to the four campuses of the University of Missouri, it would do a lot more for economic development than a building used ten times a year.

If you think this is a "yes" or "no" question, you've confirmed my opinion that
you're a bunch of morons.

It's no use. It's completely hopeless for the Rams remaining in St. Louis. There is absolutely nothing ANYONE can do about it. Not even Mayor Francis Slay, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, or even Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Not even Missouri Government can do anything to keep the Rams in St. Louis. Just save everybody all of this aggravation and just move the Rams back to Los Angeles. Let's face it. St. Louis wasn't meant to be an NFL city in the first place, and it never will be an NFL city. LET'S GET THE NFL OUT OF ST. LOUIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!! That would make everybody happy.

The dome can seat 66,965 according to Wikipedia. If each seat paid an extra $65 per game for all 8 home games for the next 20 years, they could raise the $700 million from the devoted fans that use the stadium.

I'm tired of millionaires wanting the taxpayer to cover their expenses. The taste of Bidwell's demands still leaves a bitterness in my mouth. As I was growing up, I often wondered why St Louis couldn't have a good team like the Rams of the 60's. It was like a dream when they moved here. Reality check time now. St Louis is too small a market to keep up with the larger cities in the league. No sense in trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Thanks for the 1999 season,
Bye

I say NO. Want a better stadium? Be a better team! Win more games! Then let's talk about it. We can't fill the current stadium anymore with their poor performance as it is. The current stadium has nothing to do with team performance...

I wish I could say I am suprised by some of the comments here. Maybe the Rams are gone and maybe they aren't. This a process similar to buying a car or house. Each side is going to try and get the better deal. The hope is that they are able to meet somewhere in the middle that makes the best sense for the area and the Rams. This is why the negotiations should have remained closed until an tentative agreement was reached. Then the citizens could review the plan and comment (and vote if needed).

What is the saying: putting the cart before the horse.

The Rams suck. Let them leave.

Why does any city want a professional football team? They play 8 home games a season. Maybe a couple more if they make the playoffs and have home field advantage. Is the economic benefit really that great?

Interesting. How does that compare to the revenue generated by baseball and hockey? Or basketball, if we had a team?

Thanks for all that extra info. I can see now the benefit of having and keeping the Rams, as long as there is no, or very minimal, public funding involved. Otherwise the revenue gains can easily be wiped out by the cost of using tax dollars to finance any stadium improvements.

Maybe we can pay for the improvements to the stadium with the taxes generated by Ball Park Village?

let them move to LA...Georgia made a small fortune immediately...about $70 million on PSL's before the first game was even played.....let Kroenke take them back to LA and get the PSL revunue from the good people in LA..plus they can build the dome stadium and the top tier for him.....enough is enough when it comes to professional sports.....i hope they price themselves right out of the market...