St. Louis Rams fans are on edge with the revelation that the team can vacate its lease with the Edward Jones Dome after the 2014 season.
The team received its freedom after St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) rejected a proposal that would have forced the city to toss $700 million at a facility nobody seems to like. The move was a no-brainer, as the CVC did not have the funding nor the support of taxpayers and politicians.
The decision gives the franchise a legitimate bargaining chip as negotiations shift from renovation to new stadium funding. Theoretically, if Rams owner Stan Kroenke doesn’t get a deal he likes, he’s free to jump ship after next season.
In reality, the team is likely to begin a series of year-to-year leases at the Dome until they find the funding and location for a new stadium in St. Louis or elsewhere.
For the immediate future, the rumored escape routes are murky. None of the purported destinations are NFL-ready. Los Angeles has an awful stadium and limited support for a new one. London would be a nightmare for travel. San Antonio and Portland lack stadiums as well.
So St. Louis fans can look forward to a few more years of football alongside this riveting game of “chicken” between Kroenke and local politicians.
