I’d like to advise Scam Alert that even the Packers spent a tone of money on renovations to Lambeau field.

Putting a few pieces together is that this notion hasn’t been floated by the team yet and seems to be a talking point to drum up noise and paper sales. And finally, people talk like the idea is to pull funding out of schools for a new stadium. That simply isn’t the case, the taxes come from revenue generated by the stadium. It’s self sustaining and isn’t in the budget otherwise. Doesn’t the city own the Dome anyway? Who makes money from the lease agreement and other events held at the Dome? When motocross is here, the Rams don’t get that money. In the case of the Cardinals, isn’t the public funding a loan? Isn’t that money getting paid back through tax revenues?

People squak at this from the most simplistic angle. Its these mindsets that keep big business out of the region in todays world. Businesses work with the city to create a good economic climate benefiting the business and the city. These yahoos want business to just show up and get punished with high tax rates and like it. Thats smart.

I would prefer that the Rams up and left and hope the Cardinals follow them. There have been a number of studies done pointing out how much damage having a sports team does to the local economy. Here ia a link to one http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=9474&CFID=4263390&CFTOKEN=73238279. There are many others. Any politician who would spend tax money on a sports team is an idiot in my opinion. Its very simple economics. Some enterprises bring outside money into a community as do Boeing, Busch, and Chrysler. That increases the local standard of living for everybody. Other enterprises siphon wealth out of a community lowering the standard of living. The Rams and Cardinals are two of our leading examples. Tell me again where those hundred million dollar payroll checks are going.

Only in America do we think about spending $30 on a football stadium when people can’t afford groceries and gas.

I’m starting to think people are stupid enough to be getting what they deserve.

I believe a good sports franchise offers many intangible bonuses to a city at large and to each fan of the franchise individually. I have spent countless hours watching the games of our St. Louis teams. I’ve been sky high with the championships and down in the dumps with the losses. A good lithmus test to the true St. Louis Rams fan is this. Think in your mind and really focus on your gut-level, visceral emotions you feel when I mention the following two stories. (1.) Super Bowl 14: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19. Rams led by quarterback Vince Ferragamo. (2.) Super Bowl 36: New England Patriots 20, ST. LOUIS RAMS 17. Rams QB KURT WARNER. Both Rams franchise Super Bowl losses. Do you really feel much when thinking of SBXIV? No, not really. How about SBXXXVI? Still stings doesn’t it? That’s what all the money on stadiums and tickets and player salaries and such goes for. That deep down heart-felt emotion that other entertainment can’t provide.

You can’t compare sports to other businesses. As much as I appreciate the comfort the Lennox Corporation provides during our hot Missouri summers, I don’t feel that down in the gut elation or depression from them.

One piece of advice for the civic leaders. Market the money (major stadium upgrade or new stadium) aspect like crazy. No one has brought up the question, “How much money does the Rams organization BRING to the city of St. Louis?” It may be way too early to ask this question but you know, if the Rams bring (random amount) $200 million / year to the city for the next 20+ years then maybe a $1 billion (gulp)investment is worth it. If it comes to the taxpayers then a black and white return on investment may make the (no doubt) huge investment easier to swallow.

For my part, my heart speaks too loudly to truly see it objectively.

I think the next lease should stipulate that the Rams need to be in the top 25% in win percentage.

The Edward Jones Dome is by far the worst stadium in the league. Dreary lighting, awful soundsystem, no atmosphere.

How about adding a couple windows, some new speakers, and pictures of actual Rams (or anything!!) on the walls. St. Louis is a baseball town so we’ll only get excited when the Rams are winning so nothing can really help on that front (expect maybe win a few games?) Going to a game now is like sitting in a tomb.

I don’t care if we use public funds for the project or not.

I read some of the response regarding my examples of bad stadiums that have survived. I have been to Green Bay to watch the Packers and I have been to Chicago to watch the Cubs. If they spent a billion dollars on either of those places they would still be old fashion. A lot of the money being spent is to update the interiors of the buildings (executive offices, players locker facilities and concession areas). It will still be the same old place to you and me. The people in Green Bay have been sitting out in the cold forever and loving it.

that dome was obsolete BEFORE it was even finished. Its too small to hold a super Bowl, but a great place to watch a Tractor pull & big trucks smash little cars. That is all the place is good for. The City messed up when they built a sub-par facility & now the St Louis tax payers will have to fix the screw-up… No thank you. The Rams can pack up & move to L.A. I will be happy to help them pack up.

Once again, its a great day to be a Cowboys fan

EXRTD, like I said in my post I would not support or vote for a general incrase in sales tax, personal or real estate tax. I would vote for a tax on hotel rooms and rental cars.
The current taxes are being collected because the voters of the county and city approved the tax and the tax is to be collected and used for purposes that promote or aid the county/city in attrating conventions, tourists and so on. If the voters had not approved the tax the money would not have been collected. We can still vote a tax on Hotels/rental cars to help pay for the items you mentioned. Not a bad ides actually.

Now, if we would really like to make a difference in this community (and I do, St Louis is my home) we need to find a way to make it more efficient and improve our schools, roads, public transportation etc. and we need to start by disolving some of the 90+ municipalities in the county and possibly make the city part of the county. I cannot believe that there is not millions upon millions of dollars there waiting for the taking. Just think of the duplication of services that we have. In the municipality I live in we have way too many police officers and fire fighters. We have the number we have because of the sales tax revenue the city I live in collects. If we don’t spend we lose it per state statues, so we hire public servants so we don’t have to turn it over to the state.

Lets see. The rams went 3-13 last year and of course the price of tickets went up. While it appears that this years team should be better, their schedule will make it difficult to improve their record. If taxpayers money is required to help build a new stadium(no roof), all counties that make up the St. Louis metropolitan area (Mo. and Ill.) will need to chip in, not just St. Louis city and county. Although I am a huge football fan, I cannot believe that the dome is near the end of its useful life. Personally, if the rams insist on a new venue, then they should build it the way they want it with their own money. They can sink or swim depending on their own risk and reward, put the onus on management to keep a top notch team most of the time.