Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Rams report, 2/22: London exchange


The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has reached an agreement with the Rams to amend the current stadium lease to allow the Rams to play one "home" game in London next season. The Rams originally had an agreement with the NFL to play one "home" game in London each of the next three seasons, but the CVC wants to leave that open to future negotiations.

In exchange for the right to travel over 4,500 miles to get drubbed by the Patriots instead of staying at home for it, the Rams have agreed to make up the lost week of pay to the Dome's contracted employees, which include the ticket takers and ushers. The lease has also been amended to allow the city to use the Dome twice a month during football season for conventions. This had been limited to once a month. I'm unaware of conventions clamoring to come to St. Louis during football season, but the CVC is positive the extra dates will "more than make up" for revenues lost by the loss of a Rams game downtown.

I doubt this agreement amounts to anything in the long run, other than each side has shown willingness to cooperate with the other. So far the negotiations between the city and the Rams have been much closer to cordial than to acrimonious, which is always a good thing.

I hesitate to mention we're a week away from the Rams' very likely rejection of the Dome upgrade plan proposed last month. We'll then be another two months from hearing - at long last - Stan Kroenke's thoughts on the issue.

-$-

While they're at it, since the Rams are slated to play at Buffalo this season, why don't they push the league to be the road opponent for Buffalo's "home" game in Toronto? Why not be the first NFL team to play regular-season games in three different countries? And Toronto could make for another cool excuse for a road trip...

-$$-

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