On Wednesday, the St. Louis Convention and Visitor Commission delivered a proposal to the St. Louis Rams for upgrades to the Edward Jones Dome. The plan is the first step in a process to bring the facility in line with the "top tier" requirements that would trigger an out clause for the Rams following the 2014 season. Though the plan is supposed to be under wraps, some details have emerged.
Multiple outlets reported on Wednesday afternoon that the proposal from the CVC includes additional suites, a video board rivaling the behemoth at Texas Stadium and a price tag believed to be $124 million.
There was a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon. Few details on the situation have emerged thus far. That price tag, if accurate, is well below what many believe the necessary renovations will cost. Some estimates more than triple that number, but with details about the "top tier" requirements so vague, it's impossible to guess at a price tag.
The information above does line up with Mayor Slay's statement that the top tier requirements hinge on a "dozen or so" features in the Dome.
UPDATE: The CVC has briefed the media on their proposal. The St. Louis Business Journal has details. Besides the upgrades mentioned above, it would also come with upgraded concessions, an additional 1,500 club seats and club lounge area.
Other details include removing steel panels to let in more natural light. A lounge addition across Broadway Street would include a beer garden as well as an area with terminals and web access, described as a "geek suite" by an obviously non-hip group of civic leaders.
As far as the costs, the Rams would be on the hook for 52 percent, the city for the rest.
The Rams have the ball now. Will they consider this proposal a reasonable start? The team has been pretty clear that they want a facility capable of hosting big events, like a Super Bowl, all year.
0 recs | 44 comments
Good Start but....
I imagine they are willing to go bigger if that was their first proposal. I imagine we will see all kinds of changes by the time this is over if accepted
thatsfaulkedup98 - February 1, 2012
I thought it would take somewhere between 300 and 400 million?
Seems like quite a low ball proposal to me
Option27 - February 1, 2012
Do you honestly trust their estimate?
I’m sure it would take more than 124 million to complete these changes… It’s much easier to go whoops it’s going to cost more once it’s started. Basically this will come down to getting that 52/48 split changed and if Mr Kronke is motivated to stay in St Louis.
Sggladden - February 1, 2012
That is not enough to put The ed in The top tier stadiums sorry! Needs atleast 250 or more! Get it together cvc!
kevio3000 - February 1, 2012 via Android app
CHOP OFF THAT STUPID ROOF
Start with that and go from there!!! Football was not meant for playing indoors and it just doesn’t seem like a real football game because you’re not in the elements, or maybe because our Rams suck.
Nic66 - February 1, 2012
I've been told that structurally that can't happen
Basically the roof structure keeps the sides from falling. The cost to retrofit the facility with new outer walls would ve astronomical… possibly more expensive than building a new stadium from scratch.
Sggladden - February 1, 2012
True
Brick Top - February 1, 2012
Damn, didn't know that...
That sucks I hate that stadium
Nic66 - February 1, 2012
Sounds like a good start
Eric Nagel - February 1, 2012
Stupid plan fiscally
Why do few cities ignore the obvious and not benchmark success? Why are they that dim?
Users should subsidize the stadium not tax payers, that’s how government accounting works. You match expenditures with revenues. Add a 2% surcharge on all events (Ram and non-Rams) in the Dome and establish a renovations fund.
Instead, the current proposal will require a city-wide vote to approve either a local tax or a bond. The economy is not healthy. Take a guess on how the vote will turn out and feel free to reference the City of Sacramento.
81 Witness - February 1, 2012
Basically the Rams would recoup their portion of the plan by an increase in ticket price.
The 60 million or so the city/county/state would be in the hook for would need to be approved. Personally 60 million would be a small price to pay to keep 700 million basically going down the toilet.
Sggladden - February 1, 2012
The new "Lounge" area sounds like it will make a pretty penny too? Who gets that money?
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
Yep
I would imagine that the Rams would keep the revenue generated by their events and the owners of the facility would get all other profits with a percentage going to the Rams. I think the Broadway annex is the most intriguing part of this plan. It could house a Rams hall of fame, team store and a sports bar that could generate year round revenue. Also I believe the Cardinals are looking for a home for their Hall of fame so why not look into leasing out space to them. I think the concept of a catwalk between the dome and the Annex needs to be expanded to an outdoor patio area that overhangs the sidewalk with several large bringes to the annex.
Sggladden - February 1, 2012
The question is...
How many people in STL wanna front that money with the economy the way it is?
QA-Ram - February 1, 2012 via mobile
Speaking as a person who doesn't live in St. Louis... I'm all for it! lol
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
I second this.
Joe Mazzi - February 1, 2012
Thirded
Anywhere but Pennsylvania
DCRamFan - February 1, 2012
I live in STL but I'd front the money. Then again I am a huge fan.
QA-Ram - February 1, 2012 via mobile
don't mind me
just taking a friendly jab at Ramphetamine, and the terrible, terrible state that he resides in
DCRamFan - February 1, 2012
Not much worse then Pennsylvania.
Might as well start naming worse states now. New Jersey.
RAMpage28 - February 1, 2012
Montana
QA-Ram - February 1, 2012 via mobile
Pennsylvania
….in case you didn’t see it the first time, and only because of the Pittsburgh Penguins
DCRamFan - February 1, 2012
Michigan is pretty bad.
It has Detroit in it.
RAMpage28 - February 1, 2012
Nevada is a hell hole. If it didn't have Las Vegas and the East shore of Lake Tahoe...
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
I enjoyed hiking the Red Rocks
pretty beautiful area, IMO
DCRamFan - February 1, 2012
You are a cold and bitter human being.
Joe Mazzi - February 1, 2012
haha!
….not sure why I’m laughing at that, because I’m positive that you mean it. Now that I think about it, I’m hurt! I’ll await your apology
DCRamFan - February 1, 2012
He says KSR put him up to it, and that he should apologize
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
where in world has that guy been?
It’s not been quite the Maxim magazine here without him!
DCRamFan - February 1, 2012
He's to busy being a stalker! lol
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
It would be interesting to see
The economy won’t always be this bad… or at least it better not be. If the team leaves we’re never going to see another one barring the most unforeseen circumstances and even then at a cost far higher than this. Your local and regional TV will be for it as it’s a huge boost to their income via the advertising revenue they can generate from games and team related broadcast. The Rams have really kicked ass in ratings despite their poor play. Anybody with a business down town would be fore it. Face it a 700 million vacant concrete bunker doesn’t exactly help the plight of keeping downtown realavant.
I’d say the emotional uninformed opinion would be to not fund this while the more rational conclusion would be to fund it.
Sggladden - February 1, 2012
Hopefully...
They sell this as more job opportunities, and turning the dome into a world class facility capable of hosting more than just a football team. Everyone I’ve talked to says if we have to pay for a losing team to stay let them go. Now when they start winning again it’ll be a different story.
QA-Ram - February 1, 2012 via mobile
Winning fixes everything
I think the key is to develop a fun space that people can utilize year round. The Boadway annex, if executed right, would do just that.
Sggladden - February 1, 2012
How do people of STL feel about this?
roughly 60 mill comes out of taxes, that sounds really low for a large city. Pretty sure here in Anchorage we always vote on stuff like 20 mill for cops to have heated toilets and stupid shit like that (just a random stupid thing, we didn’t really vote on that…however….)
sergey606 - February 1, 2012
The cops demand a higher doughnut budget.
All in favor?
RAMpage28 - February 1, 2012
How much is in the volacano budget? Are you close to it where you live? I read it may go "BOOM" any day?
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
Cleveland is what I'm guessing you're talking about is far away, it's in the Aleutians
Redoubt erupted a couple years ago, that’s just across the inlet. We have 3 volcanoes super close to Anchorage: Spurr, Redoubt and Augustine. You asked the right guy :)
sergey606 - February 1, 2012
You're our Geo-man here at TST
Douglas M - February 1, 2012
That's me!!
sergey606 - February 1, 2012
Missing two things
A Rams Museum and 49ers urinals
HomerForTheRams - February 1, 2012
LMAO!
Douglas M - February 2, 2012
Two thoughts:
1) PATHETIC proposal. Absolutely ridiculous.
2) " A lounge addition across Broadway Street would include a beer garden as well as an area with terminals and web access, described as a “geek suite” by an obviously non-hip group of civic leaders."
Cyber Cafes are so 10 years ago, went away with the introduction of WiFi.
Danrarbc - February 2, 2012
I was thinking the same thing.
Since one can get WiFi at fucking McDonald’s these days, a cyber cafe/beer garden only sounds enticing as purely a beer garden. Which is fine, because I like beer. A lot.
FailureDrill - February 2, 2012 via Android app
same. whatever they call it, they have beer.
sergey606 - February 2, 2012
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