What would it take to make the Rams’ stadium top flight?
The St. Louis Rams’ lease at the Edward Jones Dome requires that its facility be maintained as a venue that ranks in the top 25 percent of the NFL. If it’s not, the team can break the lease and move.
Our story for the Friday Post-Dispatch says that job may get tougher as newer — and very expensive — stadiums are rolled out around the league.
Bill Coats’ story says, “The NFL stadiums under construction in Indianapolis; Arlington, Texas; and East Rutherford, N.J., are “going to be the cream of the crop, and they’re going to be no more than five or six years old” by 2015, (Convention and Visitors Commission chairman Dan) Dierdorf said. “What do you do to a 20-year-old building to make it the equal of a brand new $1 billion stadium?”
The dome is undergoing $30 million in upgrades, including new video boards and an as-yet-undetermined way of getting more natural sunlight into the building. Those slightly tardy improvements will satisfy requirements to keep the facility in the top tier at the first 10-year segment of the 30-year lease.
What would it take to bring the Rams’ stadium up to where it needs to be? What improvements would you like to see in the venue? How much would you be willing to support taxes for the improvements — or would you insist that private money finance any upgrades?
Or, would you care if the Rams up and left?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
There are a lot of good solid comments on this subject. I especially liked the one with the guy wanting some “love” or help to rehab his house, done in the same spirit as the building of a new stadium. Off-base? Nope. Actually he nailed it on the head!
I also agree KC is a far better venue and NFL experience. One reason, as previously mentioned, is that the facility is Football Only. There is room to “tailgate”. It is laid out nice and there is an entirely different atmosphere before games.
For my view; get over the idea of “revitalizing” downtown. I have said it before and once again, 2 busch stadiums and a new dome and the arch, riverboat gambling and countless other “Brainstorms” to re-energize downtown which turn out to be brain farts and where are we? (check out the fabulous fishing on Lake DeWitt) Same spot, going nowhere. We as taxpayers and citizens and fans are simply pumping new blood into heroin addict time after time after time and he just keeps going out looking for more drugs once released. Time to move either to the county or east for a location, if and that’s a BIG IF, we decide to bend over and take it one more time for a pro sports team. Where will the money come from? Right now and despite those that say, “well, in November, after the election, it will get better (want to buy this bridge I own on the East Coast?) It is coming down to Gas or Groceries. We all need to look at the cost/benefit of this whole situation. For me, the NFL is a fun time, even here in a dark, dank, liveless stadium. But… am I able to truly go out and buy tickets 8 times a year realistically? Mortage the future of the area by subsidizing an entity which really only comes in to ask for more from me every 10 years by adding new taxes? Nope. Sorry, rambling but that is my opinion anyway.
St. Louis has far more important areas that need fixing, the schools, more police presence etc. If they want to attract more people down town to shop and live schools and police are far more important. Considering that the Rams only play 8 or 9 games at home it is ridiculous to spend that kind of money. There is nothing wrong with the dome, why do they need “sunlight” can’t they play under electric lights. Don’t think lack of sunlight affects their performance. They are premadonnas. I don’t want to pay more taxes for an improved dome. Let some other city get taken to the cleaners.
Well I don’t have much respect for pro anything right now.I hear so much about the use of drugs.Yes we need to spend more money on teachers and police but that would surely mean higher taxes.
What I envision is a win-win for the Rams, our Convention Center, fans, tax base, and region as a whole. The dome can be opened up to include Convention Center space during home games or other Rams functions. You can go ahead and call me crazy now, but the Rams are going to have a huge season. Interest will come with our success. The roof of our dome could be arranged to show holograms that would play simultaneously with monitors arranged around the stadium. There could be visions of Rams yesterday, today, and ambitions for tomorrow, as well as feature pieces of Rams past and present. In other words, let the fans in St. Louis know why they should be RAMS fans. As far as the Convention Center space, we could have St. Louis Rams themed bars, restaurants, game rooms, maybe a spot where Rams fans can watch Live Interviews, etc….