St. Louis Rams got "Major League'd"

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,231
33,243
113
The NFL voted for St. Louis Rams to move back to LA last night and the owner admitted this has been in the works since 2002.

2002!!!?!?!?!?! The year after SpyGate screwed STL out of a 2nd super bowl win. a few years later, the downfall started and decision after decision looked like tanking.

As a former fan, I'm not mad the organization is moving , especially since they were intentionally manipulating things to move back to LA for a decade but I'm furious that they played the fans and city ... they took money and support without any intent of trying to deliver on their end.

I know many here are Cincy Fans so imagine how you'd feel if they tanked on purpose for about a decade just so they can give you the finger and leave.
 

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,231
33,243
113
The B.S. part is that this great city might not have football again for 20 or so years.
 

GLR5555

All-American
Apr 2, 2012
17,380
5,234
113


Least they didn't sneak out in the middle of the night.
 
Jan 28, 2007
20,397
30,168
0
The blame is squarely on the city. Who the hell signs a contract guaranteeing that the stadium will be in the top 25% of all venues? You have so little control in terms of managing your costs if that happens. And guess what, the city of Cincinnati did something similar.

From a federal standpoint, if I were a congressman I'd propose a bill saying that no municipality providing tax-payer support of professional sports can receive federal aid. End of story.

The only thing that I like about the thing is that the LA deal is not tax-payer supported. Good for them.
 

Big_Blue79

All-Conference
Apr 2, 2004
52,487
2,147
0
The blame is squarely on the city. Who the hell signs a contract guaranteeing that the stadium will be in the top 25% of all venues? You have so little control in terms of managing your costs if that happens. And guess what, the city of Cincinnati did something similar.

They signed what they had the leverage to get. Blame is on owners for suckering cities again and again and on politicians/voters that allow this to happen.
 

Free_Salato_Blue

All-Conference
Aug 31, 2014
4,475
2,485
0
At least the LA citizens are not having to pay for the new stadium.
Pure crap for taxpayers to flip the bill for a new home for these sports team when most them never see a live game.
The mayor and city councilmen get good seats though.
 
Jan 28, 2007
20,397
30,168
0
They signed what they had the leverage to get. Blame is on owners for suckering cities again and again and on politicians/voters that allow this to happen.

I don't blame the owners for this at all. It would be similar to fable about the scorpion who stung the frog. That's what these scumbag owners do. You have to expect it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big_Blue79

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,231
33,243
113
the stadium St Louis was going to build for them was a 1 billion dollar stadium.... which upholds the lease agreement. Rams bolt anyways. It takes time to put together plans for these things as we are well aware of with how the New Rupp fell apart.

STL can not be held accountable for a team looking to leave the city since 2002. Thats the year after a super bowl game..... The owners weren't wanting out of STL... as much as they were wanting to make a larger profit in LA. its as simple as that
 

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,231
33,243
113
If St. Louis is so great then why did the Rams want to leave?

I lived in St. Louis for 4 years, "great" is not a word I'd use to describe it.

The Rams wanted the profit of LA. Its a larger media market.

If the city of St Louis was poor like the Rams are saying then why are the Blues and Cardinals doing so well?
 

jockstrap_mcgee

All-Conference
Jan 22, 2009
1,354
1,194
0
Whatever they do, I hope they don't play at the rose bowl waiting for the new stadium to be built.

There's a flea market there on Sunday's and I need to gets my antique furniture.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dezyDeco

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,231
33,243
113
I also found it funny the city of St . Louis was willing to build the Rams a 1 billion dollar stadium but Lexington and Kentucky won't build UK basketball one that costs a third of that.
 

GYERater

All-Conference
Jul 19, 2012
2,489
3,375
0
Metro Lexington is about 1/6th the size of metro St Louis, plus its not like UK is going to leave town.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big_Blue79

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,231
33,243
113
The rams were complaining about the Edward Jones Dome and Rupp is ancient as f**k compared to that.
 

mashburned

Heisman
Mar 10, 2009
40,283
49,516
0
LOL if some stupid city would take the Bengals...pshhh.....man, what a dream. Then the Reds DIAF. Wow. Suddenly Cincinatti is looking like it might be respectable.
 

EvilMD

All-Conference
Dec 29, 2003
7,327
2,419
0
Rams fan since the 70s here. Glad they are moving back. Rams were big winners in LA from late 60s to late 80s. In 20 years in St. Louis they had a four-year period of success, the rest of the time they were the worst in the NFL. L.A. is a much, much better place to be located. Five times the population. The tie-ins to Hollywood. They won't be the outsiders they always were in St. Louis.

Very excited about moving back.
 

420grover

All-American
Mar 26, 2006
7,703
7,860
0
After they lost the Cardinals, St. Louis should thank L.A. for letting them borrow the Rams for 20 years.
 

buster3.0

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2009
5,160
1,715
113
With all the rage about every team getting a new billion dollar stadium, I am really surprised to see the Raiders play in that sh*tbox they have to share with the As. How do both of these stories franchises stay in Oakland under such conditions I have no idea.

I was in favor of the Raiders moving back to LA. I loved the LA Raiders as a kid. They seemed to fit and were well followed. The Bay area already has the 49ers, I don't see why they need two teams. Plus, some of these stadiums getting replaced like the Georgia Dome or the St. Louis dome are palaces compared to that thing in Oakland. It is the last of the multi-purpose shared baseball/football stadiums (ie RIP Riverfront Stadium).
 

dgtatu01

All-Conference
Sep 21, 2005
8,673
2,622
0
Guys a small town like Lexington is never going to be able to build a state of the art Arena. It doesn't even make sense to have one. 20 UK dates with no corporate suites deals is not enough to support it without major money from the state government. Rupp is awesome for what it is. This is not something to get butt hurt about.
 

CastleRubric

All-American
Nov 11, 2011
5,854
9,927
0
I"d support seeing the entire NFL packing up ;and moving somewhere else

Start all over with a new concept if we need pro football that badly --- the NFL should be burned to the ground
 
  • Like
Reactions: TortElvisII
Jan 28, 2007
20,397
30,168
0
I"d support seeing the entire NFL packing up ;and moving somewhere else

Start all over with a new concept if we need pro football that badly --- the NFL should be burned to the ground

Wahhh??? The NFL is awesome. Especially if you are a UK fan as it provides a way to see at least some good football over the weekend.
 

80 Proof

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
64,690
51,666
113
To me it's a no brainer, why would anyone want to live or operate in St Louis if LA was an option?

St Louis hasn't been a cool city since the 1780's when it was basically what LA is now, the biggest city in the American West.
 

Festivus Miracle

All-Conference
Mar 12, 2014
1,457
1,233
0
Tennessee Titans should take note. Who knows they could be next.
Absolutely. As new as the stadium is, I can see down the road them wanting something in Franklin or Mt Juliet or Hendersonville. Seems far fetched right now, but who knows in 5 years. San Antonio Titans? Nashville is booming now. 2020 who knows.
 

RUPPsRevenge1

Junior
Mar 17, 2008
2,152
241
0
It is completely on the city. They e had the same mayor for 15 years and the governor has been around ample time as well.

They knew what it would take to keep them (or any team in that type of city from a tax and stadium prospective). They have been talking about this for years and STL just wrote up a proposal 3 weeks ago. If the leaders of the city/state wanted them and thought it provided value for the city, they would have been working a lot harder a lot er earlier.
 

TruBluCatFan

Heisman
Dec 21, 2001
19,313
10,108
113
I don't blame the owners for this at all. It would be similar to fable about the scorpion who stung the frog. That's what these scumbag owners do. You have to expect it.

Must be a Bernie supporter! Not wanting a business owner to be able to maximize his profit potential. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
 

EvilMD

All-Conference
Dec 29, 2003
7,327
2,419
0
If I buy a business in Missouri and the sales have been lagging and the business is not doing well, I ought to be able to move MY business to a bigger city with bigger opportunity and better prospects for my business to do well.

It's not selfishness. It's good business.

People are forgetting that St. Louis "stole" the Rams from L.A. 20 years before.