Has Kroenke become more problem than solution?

by Ryan Van Bibber on May 11, 2010 8:33 AM CDT in St. Louis Rams sale

I've been kind of nonchalant about the St. Louis Rams ownership situation. I was happy with Shahid Khan when he was the lead horse to purchase the Rosenbloom's 60 percent share. When Stan Kroenke threw his name into the mix at the last minute, I was fine with that too. Both men have ties to the region making it more likely for the Rams to stay in or around St. Louis. The advantage to Kroenke owning the team was primarily his deep pockets and solid track record as a pro sports owner.

Thought I'm not exactly fired up about the ownership situation as it stands now, I would classify myself as mildly annoyed. The uncertainty of situation is said to be having an impact on the front office's plans to rebuild the team, limiting free agent spending, according to a source cited in today's PD article.

And the latest news in the saga, the "wife option," gives it a strange twist. Essentially, it's Stan telling the league that he wants the Rams and doesn't intend to cede control over the NBA and NHL teams he owns in Denver. For such a shrewd businessman, I'm wondering if this move wasn't very well conceived. Plus, he's kind of screwing Khan in this whole thing, but that's business. Had Kroenke not thrust himself into the mix, the ownership situation would be very close to resolved when team owners meet in a couple weeks.

Whatever option he and the league deem the best, it needs to get worked out as soon as possible before the situation really does start to compromise what the Rams are trying to do on the field.

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Khan's a big boy

he didn’t get where he is today without being shrewd himself. He’ll survive. Besides this whole matter isn’t over yet…I’m still waiting for the fat lady to sing,

Go Rams!

"We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just not a very good football team right now." --- Bruce Coslett, New York Jets Head Coach circa 1990s

by Nbr1RamFan on May 11, 2010 10:40 AM CDT reply actions

This could take awhile to sort out...

The NFL is so much more diligent about letting anybody into their club, as opposed to the “express lane” process that Michael Jordan went through in the NBA…even a big shooter like Jerry Jones went through the gauntlet.

It seems to me the worst case scenario here would be litigation. If the League says no to the Kroenkes, and they decide to sue, it could complicate this ownership situation for months and months, further handicapping the efforts to improve the on field product. I don’t really care who owns the team, let’s just get it done.

by tbell61 on May 11, 2010 10:59 AM CDT reply actions

So tired of the cloud of uncertainty looming over the rams

by Buck Nasty87 on May 11, 2010 11:37 AM CDT reply actions

Does anyone know how much this has actually affected our offseason?

I’ve heard various articles saying it “could” affect our free agent spending, that selecting a franchise quarterback “typically” pleases new ownership, and that it “might” be hard to get Bradford signed with ownership uncertainty. But nothing more than speculative journalism.

Does anyone have an idea of what kind of moves the Rams would have otherwise made? Free agent movement has been limited in general so it’s hard to say what non-action has been a result of the uncapped year vs. ownership uncertainty, although journalists seem to favor the latter with the Rams.

by kswiss on May 11, 2010 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Just wish it were a faster process.

From a business standpoint he’d be silly not to exercise his right for the other 60% of the team giving how much it was selling for under fair market value by most accounts. He would stand to make a hundred million or more in assets the day the team sells and that’s with the team in the sorry state it’s been in the last few years.

That said I believe he’ll keep the team in Saint Louis, and even more importantly that he’ll be dedicated to making the Rams winners again, and consistently so given his track record with his other teams.

I’m excited Kroenke will be the new owner I just wish the NFL would speed things up.

by Scato on May 11, 2010 2:05 PM CDT reply actions

To buck the trend...

Kroenke has made himself into the problem with this transaction. The only things he’s guaranteed is that this process is going to last longer than it needs to be. Its becoming more clear as each day passes, and with every buyout scenario thats reported that he has no clear strategy for owning this team. As a Rams fan, its concerning that he has 4 other teams that he also spends his time and money on. Will Rams fans have to miss out on a key free agent because Carmello Anthony wants a bigger contract with the Nuggets or because the Avs are trying to get some high priced free agents? Kroenkes first love is basketball, so football will be second fiddle at best. The Rams franchise deserves to have an owner that 100% commits his time and money on the team. The question also is, can Kroenke’s ‘smoke and mirrors’ proposals dazzle 24 out 32 NFL owners enough for them to ignore established league rules (or the spirit of them)? This is a tale of two potential owners, one thats using ‘smoke & mirrors’ and a contract to strong-arm his way into full ownership, the other owner is doing it the old fashioned way (making a competitive bid on the team and following all the NFL rules previously established for him to become owner). As each day passes I become more convinced that Khans going to be the owner the NFL chooses for the Rams.

by Da Rams! on May 11, 2010 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

Most owner spends 100% of their time on their teams.

The reason that the people that buy these teams have the money to buy these teams is because they are businessmen. They don’t stop running their businesses to buy a sports franchise. For example Paul Allen owns the Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Seahawks. He is also a business man. Do you think he can’t be successful in each of these arenas? Of course he can, he delegates! He hires managers to run the teams as they see fit. If they don’t agree, he fires the GM and hires a new one. I’m sure he has time to let each GM for the Trail Blazers and the GM for the Seahawks sign any free agent they think they need. What about Jerry Jones & Daniel Snyder? They are both successful businessmen who continue to work in their respective businesses AND own franchises.

Personally, I think the NFL rule about ownership of professional teams in other markets is stupid. Maybe it would make since if we still traveled by horse & buggy, but with electronic communications, private jets, it makes no sense.

I don’t care who the owner is, just as long as they want to win, and are willing to pony up the bucks to make it happen. Georgia and her kids make lousy owners because the Rams were their only asset. They actually had to make a profit.

by Winkz on May 16, 2010 4:58 AM CDT up reply actions

If a team is worth over 500 million yetthey don't want to put a 200 million dollar team on the ffield

sounds like more of a front office problem then it does a ownership problem. If they let O-togs walk it’s not because they don’t have a solid owner nor the money to do it. Like the last 5 years they have been telling the fans to buy tickets to a 2 ring circus. It’s time they pony up and put some exciting players on the field and keep there best one

Why is patience a virtue and procrastination a sin...I mean whats wrong with patiently procrastionating?

by Go_Blues on May 11, 2010 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

No, it is an ownership problem right now.

The owners are still Georgia’s kids. Why would they want to dump millions more into a franchise they are selling? When you sell a house, are you ready to voluntarily put several thousand into fixing it up (new roof, carpet, paint, landscaping, etc) when you don’t have to because the new owner is willing to buy it for the same price “as is”? Of course you aren’t. Why would the current owners of the Rams spend $10 milllion or more to get pricey free agents when Kroenke and/or Khan are willing to buy it for the same price with the current roster? Unless Kroenke or Khan is willing to up the purchase price by $10 million, Georgia’s kids aren’t going to spend $10 million more to get some free agents. They established the budget for this year before the sale, and that’s all there is available until the sale goes through.

by andyrose on May 12, 2010 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions