If the Rams got a new stadium, where would it be? (St. Louis: lease, crime)

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I'm gonna copy something that I posted on another forum.

The Rams lease states that by 2015 if The Edward Jones Dome is not in the top 25% of NFL stadiums, the Rams can void their lease and move.

Let's say it's 2015.

The Rams say, "Give us a new stadium or we'll move!".
Well, let's say the city agrees.

Could they build a new stadium at the old Pruitt-Igoe space? I mean I know it's the scary part of town, but the space looks to be big enough for the stadium and then some. There are a few problems:
a) no MetroLink station. Nearest one is at Union Station, about a mile away. Most people would not want to walk that mile if they're riding the MetroLink, especially in winter.
-- could/would the Rams owners opt for buses? Would that carry enough people to and from the games?
-- could MetroLink be extended a mile? I know in some places they use old Cupples tunnels. I wouldn't guess there would be any that far from the riverfront, though.
b) The neighborhood around it is a bit dilapidated at the moment. Somewhat empty.
-- Would building a new stadium actually help the area, as people build some businesses around it?
c) can the electric substation there be taken out? -----Just curious.
d) would anybody go there if it was in "the ghetto"?
-- If the stadium had security and a guarded parking garage, I don't see why not. Would it be any different than attending a Cardinal game during downtown's worst times?
-- And you probably wouldn't need to travel directly through the more empty blocks directly north of Pruitt-Igoe. I would guess most people coming from a city such as Clayton would take highway 40 (surely it'll be done with repairs or whatever by 2015). Just looking at Google, it looks like anyone from a place such as St. Charles could take I-70 south, turn on 10th street, and travel due west on Cass Ave. until they get to the spot. Anyone coming from the south could probably take 55 to Cass Ave. and then west to the new stadium.
-- In case anyone is curious what's around it. St. Stanislaus is there on 20th street (I know it has some issues it's working through right now. I admit, I don't fully understand it myself). There's another nice looking complex (not sure what it is) at N Jefferson Ave and Carr St. on it's own Street called Gateway Dr.
^ Might be hard for the parish at St. Stanislaus to pay attention in church with football going on right there, though.
e) probably not a lot good restaurants/bars in the immediate area like downtown.
-- If a new stadium is put in, I imagine some people would put restaurants and bars there.
-- We complain about the crime in North St. Louis and how ugly it is. This would pump some money into the immediate area, and usually areas that (how can I say this with political correctness?) are less economically depressed are less dangerous.
f) It would be a little closer for the fans coming from anywhere else in Missouri (which I would guess would be most of them).
-- I'm not sure how much of a difference that would make.

Anyway, I know it's a crazy and hypothetical idea, it just seems like if you could get some kind of transportation there it would be plenty big enough.

I have heard Illinois as a suggestion, but that may not be perfect either.
a) it would probably be taxpayer funded and would have to be passed the state correct? I don't see Chicago taxpayers signing off on that. Unless they just make Illinoisans in the immediate area pay for it. Would they agree to it either?
b) You'd have to upgrade the East St. Louis levee, from my understanding anyway. For the Casino Queen it's probably not that big of a deal, but a new stadium wouldn't float.
c) Would we need another bridge?
-- Probably not pretty with all the traffic heading to and from the game across three (?) bridges.
d) With the jokes, and maybe legitimate fear of East St. Louis, would people want to go there?
-- Maybe if the Rams were playing well enough.
d) Would it help out East St. Louis right away?
--I'm sure the tax revenue would, but I'm not sure most people would actually go into East St. Louis after the game. Most would probably hop into their cars or back on the MetroLink and head to Downtown St. Louis to their favorite bars/restaurants. Or they would just go home.

East St. Louis does have MetroLink, which would be a plus.

Anyway, I was just wondering everyone's thoughts. This is the middle of the night, so I'm sure this will get buried, and I'll probably get shot down pretty quick, but I just wanted to know what others thought.

Thanks.

Google Maps of Pruitt-Igoe
Cass Ave & N 25th St, St Louis, MO 63106 - Google Maps
Pruitt-Igoe is the big forest south of Cass Ave.

Pruitt-Igoe history, in case anyone is curious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruitt-Igoe

[ShadowCaver]

Guess the curmudgeon in me believes that the Rams can take a hike to some other locale if that comes to pass. I'm sorry - yes, I love sports, and football is great - but to spend that much taxpayer dollars for some overpaid boys to play a couple handful of games a year, when there is so much other needs in the city, that is not cool. However, show me that proposed new stadium can be used for MANY other uses, and at decent rates for other participants, and that can sooth the opposition. Lastly, how many "regular" Joes and Janes can get into a game without paying small ransom?

STLCardsBlues - great post, btw...

[aragx6]

EJ Dome is really awful though ... but I was too young to really remember all of this coming to pass - WHY is it so awful??

[Central Illinois 1]

I am going to say something that might offend some people. But the only thing more awful than the Ram's performance this year is the dismal level of fan support that they are getting in STL. I was at the game yesterday against the Bears and the stadium was half empty. In addition, I am almost certain that were more Bears fans than Rams fans there. I would hate to think how many Rams fans would have showed up if the game had been played outside on a cold, snowy day. (I can hear it now on the radio (the visiting team's broadcast since the Rams probably wouldn't have a local broadcast anymore): "Yep folks, I see THE Ram's fan sitting up in Section 400 - Is he the same fan that roots for the Florida Marlins?...Hope he doesn't catch a cold") But seriously, come on Rams fans, you are PATHETIC. The Rams have had a rich and colorful history, not to mention some great teams in the not too long ago past. Can anyone in STL remember that far back? Teams like the Packers and Bears have had plenty of bad years too (bad decades for that matter) and guess what? The fans actually still come to the games to support their team. Interesting concept isn't it? New stadium? Well, in the unlikely event that they don't eventually leave town, the area around the Highway 40/270 interchange would be a great spot. It is highly accessible and in the heart of the most affluent part of the STL area.

[aragx6]

Why would you build a stadium where it's needed least? That makes no sense.

And honestly, I'm not sure what you expect from Rams fans. They are awful; they've been awful for years, and they don't exactly have a storied history in St. Louis.

They got great crowds during the Kurt Warner days, but those are long gone.

If and when they are ever good again, I'll bandwagon jump as fast as the next guy, but until then, I'll take a pass.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by aragx6

EJ Dome is really awful though ... but I was too young to really remember all of this coming to pass - WHY is it so awful??

The Edward Jones Dome was built on the cheap for multiple reasons, the biggest of which was money, as in lack of it. St. Louis barely squeaked out enough money to get a stadium built just to land the move of the Rams. Previously the Rams were inexplicably shut out by Paul Taglia-boo and the league for an expansion team in favor of Jacksonville and Charlotte. There was definite league politics and bias going on against the Rams.

The Edward Jones Dome was also one of the last traditional old type of domes built and it clearly was not a forward thinking plan or building. But again, money was a big issue. It isn't all that much different than the few current domes, in New Orleans, Minneapolis, etc...

St. Louis wanted a multi-purpose venue to make more revenue, and thus it was a dome and not opened air. More modern retractable roof type indoor stadiums have been built since at rapid pace making the Rams dome obsolete.

The Rams have a deal with the city that the dome must be considered a top 15 league venue. Right now it isn't close.

Next season is supposed to include some upgrades, a band-aid type approach. Full length video boards, brighter ceiling, and other things.

The Rams can start by getting a new President, a new GM, to go with recently new Player personnel director, and a new coach. They could learn by actually properly evaluated talent via the draft, and free agency, and by also learning economic values of players. I.E. stop signing over the hill players to overpriced free agent contracts desperate to find a splash. That list has been long. The list of inept drafting is too long for too many years. And this is how a team gets awful and needs years to recover.

[aragx6]

Thanks fish. That's exactly what I was looking for.

[storey13]

If/when the rams do build a new stadium, I hope they build like the new stadium for the Arizona Cardinals. That stadium is cool!

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by storey13

If/when the rams do build a new stadium, I hope they build like the new stadium for the Arizona Cardinals. That stadium is cool!

Arizona's stadium is fantastic. It's such a shame that they built it in Glendale.

And competely off topic, but the Arizona Cardinals (formerly the St. Louis Cardinals) had some of the best uniforms in the league until they changed them to look amateurish a few years back under Denny Green and league pressure to make a quick merchandising buck. That's a shame too.

[BLS2753]

I go back to the early 60's when the NFL Cardinals moved from Chicago, and played in the old Busch Stadium on Grand Ave. St. Louis has never been a good football town. The teams have generally been mediocre at best, the exception being the Don Coryell era in the mid-70's and Rams Super Bowl years early in the present decade. St. Louis fans seem to be more tolerant of mediocrity in baseball and hockey, than with football. The football Cardinals had some good players, but they have been forgotten by succeeding generations. Even the Rams 2000 Super Bowl team is overlooked as a fluke by many.

The football Cardinals previously, and the Rams presently have never established much regional appeal like other NFL teams do, or as the Cardinals do on a significant scale in baseball. Go 100 miles in any direction from St. Louis, and everyone is either a Packers, Bears, Chiefs, or Cowboys fan.

St. Louis is a baseball town, with a relatively strong hockey fanbase as well. Do to various reasons, the NFL has never gained much of a traditional following. In this respect, St. Louis is the opposite from the NFL's vast increase in popularity over the last half century in other cities.

I think the Rams would have to establish a winning dynasty over perhaps a decade to ensure long term fan support in St. Louis. Unfortunately, such success is not likely within today's NFL structure.