Taxing questions

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jun 4, 2008 9:11 AM CDT in Events

I'm dancing like Jason Taylor around a few things on the dockett this morning but there's still plenty to talk about, so I've got a few shorter posts ready to go.

First things first, let's jump in with a hot political topic. No, this has nothing to do with the election; TST is a refuge from the world's maddness. Nobody wants the Rams to leave St. Louis - at least not metro area or regional fans - but that topic is going to be with us through at least 2015 when the team's lease on the Ed Jones Dome lapses.

As you know, the Rams lease allows the team to opt out in 2015 if the EJD doesn't rank as one of the top 8 venues in the league, a very unlikely scenario with the stadiums that have been built recently and will be built between now and then.

You don't need to be a doyen of city politics to see where this heading: a request for a publicly financed new stadium. That will mean a tax increase of some kind, and with modern NFL stadiums now approaching the $billion dollar mark, the tax increase would be noticeable on the municipal level. A few weeks ago the PD's Brian Burwell mused on a publicly financed stadium, reminding readers that the public tacitly acknowledge this likelihood when the Rams came to St. Louis. He also suggests that the Rams start winning before asking Joe and Jane Lunchpail for a slice of their hard earned pay. Can't argue with that.

But let's just start with the big question first. Would you support a tax increase for a new stadium to keep the Rams in St. Louis?

Poll

Would you support a tax increase to fund a new stadium to keep the Rams in St. Louis?

Yes

38 votes

No

31 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

the k refuses to vote

I’m a bit biased on this one. I became a fan of the Rams back around 1990; for those of you whose Rams memory only extends to the last season, they were then the Los Angeles Rams. I’ve always had a small spot in my heart hoping they would head back.
Of course, I’ve never lived in LA (except being born there and moving 2 weeks later) or St. Louis. Honestly, I’d want them to move to Dallas and run the Cowgirls out.
In any case, I’m not voting in this one.
More importantly, where did 17 votes from? Who’s trawling around on here? Let’s hear from you people on the front page…. and on my fanpost

by 3k on Jun 4, 2008 12:17 PM CDT reply actions

Been a Rams fan since I was a fetus...

Mom and Dad used to go to see the Rams in the LA Coliseum and then followed them down to Anaheim. When I could afford to go to games on my own and drive my own car, I attended 15 Rams games over the ‘92, ‘93, and ‘94 seasons.

Try as I could, I could not find any Rams gear in any stores in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County areas in those years. Georgia didn’t want anyone to buy her gear so she could justify the move. Trust me, I went to dozens of sporting goods stores looking for Rams gear. Nothing.

It’s up to 57 votes now.

"At some point, a veteran player will more often than not find his stroke. You just have to show them a little bit of patience."

by Downing Rules on Jun 6, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Votes

St louis people – yes

Los Angeles people – no

So I guess that currently your site is 2/3 Louis and 1/3 Angeles.

Angels Defense. Angels Pitching. Get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 5, 2008 4:47 AM CDT reply actions

yeah

that’s an interesting thing about the Rams, the die hards still in the LA area. Ought to make this interesting as 2015 gets closer.

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jun 5, 2008 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

There are die hards and then there are burnouts...

just like there are Bidwell burnouts in St Loo.

"At some point, a veteran player will more often than not find his stroke. You just have to show them a little bit of patience."

by Downing Rules on Jun 6, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Burwells article is complete BANDWAGONISM...

“give us a winner and we’ll build a new stadium.”

Ridiculous.

You in STL are lucky to have NFL. Even if they lose, you have to go out and support them win or lose. If the community shows a commitment to the team, too, the team would never consider leaving. It is a two-way street, though. Yes, the team should be competitive, but fans, don’t jump off now that that seas are turbulent. You had a nice little run there during the Martz years. That should have established the fanbase.

"At some point, a veteran player will more often than not find his stroke. You just have to show them a little bit of patience."

by Downing Rules on Jun 6, 2008 12:07 PM CDT reply actions

Sadly

St louis abondoned their NFL team last year. Couldn’t fill the stadium, so to avoid blackouts, management had to cough up. Many a fan in St. Louis commented that they are a baseball town, so it wasn’t suprising.

Go Rams. Wherever you are. I hope St. Louis doesn’t keep up the fair weather fan syndrome.

Angels Defense. Angels Pitching. Get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Jun 9, 2008 5:37 AM CDT up reply actions