How Would Rams Fans Upgrade The Edward Jones Dome?
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 2, 2012 4:30 PM CST
in Edward Jones Dome Lease
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The CVC made their pitch for fixing up the Edward Jones Dome on Wednesday. With a $124 million price tag attached to the plan, they delivered it to the St. Louis Rams for their consideration, the first step in what could be a lengthy negotiation over the future of the Dome and the city's professional football team.
Early reviews of the plan are mixed. The CVC certainly got marked down in the attention to details category, using a picture of Marc Bulger and leaving in the sea of empty red seats.
Related: Be sure to read this take on the Dome situation from nextSTL.
For fans, I'm wondering what about the CVC proposal represents a significant upgrade. Sorry, an extra beer garden and the "geek lounge" don't qualify as perks for the fan experience.
For the Rams, the biggest boost would appear to be additional suites and more club seats, at the expense of cheaper seats. Obviously, that means more ticket revenue for the team, but enough to justify their 52 percent share of the costs?
It's clear the CVC went through a limited input process, mostly looking at other facilities rather than talking to the people that actually use the place. If product design companies went with that approach, the digital age would still be a few generations away.
So let me ask you this, as fans, the people who actually use the facility, what kind of upgrades would you like to see to the Dome? Give this some thought. Think about every aspect of the experience. For instance, tailgating around the Dome isn't the experience it is at other stadiums. Is that adequately addressed?
Another question to ask, what about these renovations would lure other events, like Super Bowls, Final Fours, and the other sort of premier events the Rams have said they want the facility to hold?
Obviously the biggest improvement will be fielding a winning team. The Rams have certainly indicated their willingness to do that by hiring Jeff Fisher.
After the jump, highlights of the plan and read the CVC proposal in its entirety.
Ok, to spur your thinking, here are the major upgrades included in the CVC proposal:
- A 96-feet video score board
- Removal of side panels to allow for more natural light
- The addition of secondary building across Broadway featuring a beer garden and a tech lounge and connecting to the main Dome structure via walkway
- Closing Broadway on game days to allow for more tailgating area
- An additional 1,500 club seats, more suites
St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission Stadium Renovation Proposal to the Rams
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Id install a new set of recievers
Or at least a hand transplant station and a cage to hold Larry Fitzgerald and Cruz while we steal their hands
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Feb 2, 2012 4:41 PM CST via mobile reply actions
the only
complaint I have about the ed is the lack of jumbotron visible from all angles. I’m nearly blind so I could never see stats or time left or anything along that line. I’m not one who complains about the lack of added features the stadium has. I’m there to watch the rams and nothing else.
by iplaythedrums on Feb 2, 2012 4:45 PM CST via mobile reply actions
There is one very important thing to remember when talking about stadium upgrades.
The CVC is not trying to please the fans, they are trying to please Kroenke. So while these upgrades may seem underwhelming to fans, the additional luxury suits are something that will please Kroenke. The improvements will focus on making the EJD a better money making machine, rather than improving the experience. Notice how they don’t mention the red seats and sound system, the two biggest complaints I’ve seen on here.
by wustl_chiefs_fan on Feb 2, 2012 5:02 PM CST reply actions
Ok first off
Didn’t I do this post in the fan post section, I think mine was about a new stadium? but let me start off by saying as a graphic designer who has put together production proposals and branding redesigns for corporate clients, the CVC should be ashamed of what they presented to the Rams. Using photos of the Kansas City Cheifs concession stands? Using a photoshopped image of an apple store to represent the “Geek Suite”? are they serious? If they would have just went to the local art school and asked a group of digital art students to put it together they would have done a 10x better job. No 3D models with detail of what the building across the street would look like, no architectural vision on what they feel the bridge should look like. If I was Stan I would have laughed and walked out, the guy is worth 4 billion dollars and they come at him with something that looks like it was made in power point. I have a lot of pride in the Rams and the fact that the accents on the page are red when the Rams are blue and Gold? IDC if the CVC has set colors they use but this is sad. It seems the CVC were lazy and didn’t give this much thought. Maybe its because they know they would not accept it so they just threw something together.
by miketrap3 on Feb 2, 2012 5:11 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
AND!!!
Is the CVC serious with the photo of bulger? This presentation clearly was prepared years ago when Bulger was still on the team? I don’t know maybe I am just a stickler for details and being in the advertising and marketing capital of the world we don’t really leave anything to chance. People in my office would get fired for producing something of this quality. I can point out at least 20 more flaws in the overall look of this proposal and I didn’t even look at it that hard. It may seem like I am picking apart the look of the thing and not the substance but if the city wanted to keep the team this initial proposal should have done something to impress the Kronk. Not showing up with something that Billy from Kinkos made. No offense to Billy obviously.
Its unreal
I am stunned, so un-professional I can’t wait to show this to my boss hahaha
lmao
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"Hell was Mark Levoir even in camp? Who is Mark Levoir? Who am I? Wtf is going on?"
- Bralidore
So the left is the Tech Lounge.
Not really a lounge just a corner with a couple of tv’s (the one furthest left doesn’t work. We’ve been meaning to call a guy for that) and on the left is the beer garden. No actual beer just pictures of beer. That is our proposal.
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
by RAMpage28 on Feb 2, 2012 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The smell of urinals while you watch HDTV... Who could resist that!
Actually, I think RAMpage said his house is like… never mind… :-)
Yeah I said my house is like.... never mind... :-)
FUCKIN EXACT QUOTE!!!!!!!!!!
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
Caption Entry:
Punxsutawney Phil came out this morning, saw this, dropped a deuce, and went right back in his stump
Reject that prize!
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
I know what you mean
This proposal wasn’t even designed in PowerPoint. How can it possibly be professional ; )
Hopefully Stan got a better copy. lol
by jmo53 on Feb 3, 2012 1:21 AM CST via Android app up reply actions
I didn't really look at it until I read your comment, but you're 100% right.
Just from a presentation aspect, this is embarrassing. I’m sure there are plenty of kids here at Wash U that would be willing and able to design some stuff for them that would look better than this.
Although Arrowhead’s concessions are pretty good.
by wustl_chiefs_fan on Feb 2, 2012 5:49 PM CST up reply actions
Right???
Its crazy hahah They easily could have taken that photo and in 20 minutes swapped out some of the colors to make an example of what it would look like blue and gold. it took me 4 months of constantly looking for a job to finally get hired and work on stuff like that and this is what they showed for a 200 million dollar proposal? if they would have given me 2 grand and a case of bud heavy I would have done it for them.
It seems like both sides are out of touch.
Remember when the Rams made that video on how to cheer at football games? It’s like they’re having a “who can embarrass the fanbase more?” competition. I mean, at the very least paint those red seats blue.
by wustl_chiefs_fan on Feb 2, 2012 6:00 PM CST up reply actions
Etch-A-Sketch
The CVC was going to use Etch-A-Sketch but they couldn’t find a big enough screen for the presentation.
The only thing wrong with the Ram Rules was...
They needed to have Chuck Norris do the reading. Then people would have been too afraid to not cheer loud!
If we’re all honest, nobody loves the Dome. No one will ever be able to make it into a great or legendary stadium. Only a new well-designed stadium could do that.
But right now it’s acceptable, although with improvements it could be raised to a ‘decent’!
For ideas: I like the big Screen the current set up is horrible, more natural light is a great start and tailgate areas sound okay (although they don’t really fill me with glee).
Basic things I would love are a way better sound system, better or more entrances to cut down the bottleneck off Washington and better merch shops.
Oh and two OLBs please.
What could possibly be wrong with the place?
I havn’t seen it and I hate domes but the thing was just built in 1995. Incredibly, I read, there are only 10 older stadiums in the NFL. That is just rediculous.
After 16 years I can see the need for new seats and scoreboards but the rest should still be fine. I think that teams constant demands for new stadiums and or upgrades have just plain gotten out of hand.
I was just gonna say...
I thought the Dome was the shiznit when it opened. After all those years of playing in borrowed stadiums in SoCal, I was glad to see my Rams finally had their own home. Even if it was halfway across the country.
I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!
by NachoD on Feb 3, 2012 12:54 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
My biggest complaint is...
when they said they were putting more natural light in by removing some of the panels I thought they were talking about the roof, not the side of the field. I would try to replace the roof with glass the whole length and width of the field. That would make it appear somewhat outdoors but still with the comfortable indoor feel. That would be my biggest fix, not even sure if it would be possible or not. Here is a link to a video of the proposal if anyone is interested.
http://www.ksdk.com/sports/article/300963/6/CVC-makes-124-million-bid-to-upgrade-dome-keep-Rams
You Really Want To Make Fans Happy?!?!
How about widening the seats?
by VandyVern on Feb 2, 2012 5:29 PM CST via Android app reply actions
HAHAHAHA!
OH GOD! Where did this guy come from?
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
When I was a young Ram fan
I had to walk 5 miles uphill and hold the rabbit ears so my dad could watch the Rams games. Vandy is gettin’ off easy.
I saw 1 snowflake growing up
that was a freak cloud that floated overhead on a particularly cold day.
My first post on TST got a sarcastic "You're off to a nice start" or something along those lines.
Can’t remember about what exactly but I disagreed with a fanpost. I think it was Marmie. Now 2-3 people always welcome new visitors. The old ways are the best. This Vandy is going to grow up to be a pansy without people to insult him.
by HomerForTheRams on Feb 2, 2012 6:03 PM CST up reply actions
You aren't turning me into some pansy with your politeness
by HomerForTheRams on Feb 2, 2012 6:09 PM CST up reply actions
I thought you might be feeling "incomplete" or something
I want you to know that we are here for you.
wasnt going to mention it
but the ‘St Louis Rams’ aren’t his favorite football team, according to his profile
Like a second father
Whatever happened to pop pop?
by HomerForTheRams on Feb 2, 2012 6:08 PM CST up reply actions
Did he really leave?
I keep seeing posts that suggest he’s still here under a different tag and I know he did have at least 1 different tag. Are posters just saying that.
RamChop and I could discuss older Rams days because we both experienced them. I thought it was cool to discuss certain things with him.
Who the fuck are you talking to?
Damn I need a drink.
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
Yes. No. I don't know.
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
3 more words
Actual Wide Receivers
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
"Any last words?"
“Yes, just three.”
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
is that a reference
to the whitest kids?
by iplaythedrums on Feb 2, 2012 9:34 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
So Edward Jones' sponsorship is up in March of this year? maybe we can get "Delocated" to sponsor the Dome?
The Delocated Dome, with a huge billboard with a picture of the masked idiot in front of the stadium! lol
Random comment.
I wish the Chargers would play in a dome so it could be called the Thunder Dome. That would be fucking sweet.
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
A bucket of bolts.
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
Hey Stan if you take this offer right now (because we can't be doing this all day) We will throw in FANS!
Yeah look at that fans that will watch this team no matter how bad they get, and look they bought rams merch! That’s money you earn from buying this product! Also one’s a young white kid and the other is a young black adult, yeah I bet you noticed that (ya fuckin racist). What diversity huh? Sure they look like huge tools but beggars can’t be choosers huh? So look at that new remodeling plus fans, all that shit just *cough 124 million dollars *cough $19.95!
2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28
I've spent A LOT of money over the years on A LOT of Rams merchandise
however, those wacky jester horns will never be included in that category.
Been losing sleep over Rams football since 1999.
Steven Jackson is a beast, a legend, a HoFer and should be treated as such.
I was unaware that the Fresh Prince of Bel Air
was a Rams fan. He grew up in West Philadelphia, ya know?
Yep
Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS
by King Sam Rules! on Feb 2, 2012 8:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
You upgrade the Dome
by putting a competitive NFL team on the turf.
Who's faster home to first? Yadi or Torty?
do you have any idea
how difficult it is to be married, and not have this site up and running? huh? do ya?!?!
These streaming sites were shut down for the SB
The websites are firstrow.tv, firstrowsports.com, firstrowsports.net, firstrowsports.tv, hq-streams.tv, robplay.tv, soccertvlive.net, sports95.com, sports95.net, sports95.org, sportswwe.net, sportswwe.tv, sportswwe.com, xonesports.tv, youwwe.com and youwwe.net.
Who shut them down?
FirstRowSports is the only way I can watch my NBA teams.
by wustl_chiefs_fan on Feb 2, 2012 8:51 PM CST up reply actions
Really? And they let them go back up after the SB?
I didn’t think they were US sites.
by wustl_chiefs_fan on Feb 2, 2012 8:56 PM CST up reply actions
no they didn't
Thats why I used firstrow in the first place. Last year they shut down the one I was using. It came back up but no NFL games.
I tried to post the link but could not get that to work
..
NEW YORK (AP) — With the Super Bowl days away, federal authorities announced a crackdown Thursday on websites that stream unauthorized broadcasts of sports events just hours after New England quarterback Tom Brady told reporters in Indianapolis that he watched last year’s game on an illegal site.
Investigators seized 16 sites and brought criminal charges against a Michigan man who controlled nine of them.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara warned sports fans in a release that piracy costs sports leagues and broadcasters millions of dollars, forcing increases in ticket prices and other costs to consumers.
His message came soon after Brady casually mentioned his own use of illegal websites during a news conference staged in preparation for the Super Bowl on Sunday between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.
“Last year I was rehabbing my foot in Costa Rica, watching the game on an illegal Super Bowl website. And now I’m actually playing in the game. So, it’s pretty cool,” Brady said.
Web operator Yonjo Quiroa, of Comstock Park, Mich., was charged Wednesday with copyright infringement. Prosecutors said he distributed football, basketball and hockey games and wrestling matches.
Quiroa appeared in federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday. He was held without bail while his immigration status was under review. Larry Phelan, his lawyer, declined to comment.
In court papers, authorities said Quiroa registered nine of the 16 seized domain names in 2010 and 2011 before operating the websites out of his home, collecting profits of at least $13,000 from online merchants who paid him to advertise on the sites.
Authorities said the prosecution was part of a continuing federal effort to target counterfeiting and piracy on the Internet.
Also in Indianapolis, federal authorities said they seized nearly $5 million worth of phony Super Bowl sportswear and merchandise in a nationwide sweep that was the result of a four-month investigation.
Officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents targeted stores, flea markets and street vendors that allegedly sold counterfeit game-related sportswear. Fake jerseys, ball caps, T-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs were among the 42,000 items confiscated in Operation Fake Sweep.
Authorities put the total take at more than $4.8 million, up from $3.7 million last year.
Also seized were counterfeit Major League Baseball, NBA and NHL items worth about $1.6 million.
..
Actually couldn't you say the raising of ticket prices...
and fees for these legitimate services and apparel lead to the necessity of the illegal market?
With the money the NFL is raking in so much it’s kind of impossible to be sympathetic.
Also should our Federal agents be more concerned with stopping illegal drugs and aliens? I mean let the NFL fund our law enforcement like we fund their stadiums before we make this a priority.
Bunch of greedy bastards!
Why don't CBS and Fox just put all the games online?
They could make more money off commercials, and nobody would use illegal sites. Most people (like me) who are stuck in markets that don’t show their favorite team have no other option unless they want to pay a ton of money.
by wustl_chiefs_fan on Feb 2, 2012 10:04 PM CST up reply actions
I did read that the NFL is considering allowing fans to subscribe to a particular team
After the current TV contracts expire. I forget where. I could really go for that as I can’t watch the Rams. I live in panther territory and just don’t care about them, their division, or any other eastern team.
Man this sucks....
I live in TN so that is my only way to watch the Rams games. Really blows, not sure how I am going to be able to watch the games next year. Hopefully some other sites will come along. I thought firstrowsports was ok because they were based overseas? They closed down another site I used this time last year. Really,really,really sucks.
Me too
I live in WNC under tenn’s eastern border. The games are too far away for me to go to and I only get panther games here.
I think thats the one I was using but without the eu part
It was far superior to firstrow. After every game I watch, on FR, I ran a complete virus scan that took all night. I was scared to touch my mouse.
I have a mac
if this thing’s got viruses, I have no idea. All I know is that I got to watch the Rams win twice this season thanks to this site
Thats funny..
I checked the site and clicked on one of the games (college bball washington and someone) and it brought me to the firstrowsports site and played the game live? Hopefully that site will work next season or I can find a new one, dont want to miss all the games.
It seems to be working for me right now...
Thanks for the link! Hopefully I wont miss any games next year because of firstrowsports being shut down, I could care less about viruses as long as I get to see the Rams all year.
So where were we........
oh yea, the stadium is getting the internet (probably wired, so watch your step), and will finally serve alcohol. See ya next year, Superbowl teams!
For what the CVC'S was trying to accomplish I'd say they did OK
They were simply approaching this from a legal standpoint of satisfying the lease. Unfortunately the essence of this plan is throwing good money after bad. The dome was behind the times as a concept when it was built. It has a atal flaw in it’s location and no ammount of skylights, jumbotrons or geek stations will change this. Is it really wise to invest a third of the cost of an actual world class stadium to extend the life of the dome another 15 years? I’d say do the thing with a translucent roof and skylights, add some additional suites and if it could be reused in a new stadium then go ahead with the Jumbotron. Then we need another entity not tied to developing downtown at the expense of better ideas to negotiate getting a new stadium built for the Rams that could actual host the Super Bowl, World Cup or a major college game.
I don't disagree with any of that...
But the Dome won’t be paid off until 2025. No one in St. Louis is going to pay to build a new stadium. It’s just not gonna happen. I’m shocked they could scrap up 50 million for the renovations.
I know it will be problematic to fund a new stadium
Perhaps even impossible. Hard to say.
I would hope that Stan would be willing to invest his own money in a stadium and the city, county and state would give him tax breaks to recoup the investment. Also I would expect the government to build the infrastructure around the new stadium. The thing is that nobody, not in LA not anywhere, is just going to give him a stadium… the lease on the Dome is as close as he’ll come to that. Now communities will kick in some money and/tax breaks that should be tied to the revenue brought in via taxes and fees.
Honestly from a pure business standpoint the Rams are viable in their current stadium as it is. It’s just that in the long run the lack of parking revenue and equity in a property hurt the overall valuation of the team. A lot of what happens depends on Mr Kronke’s vision for the team. If he’s content with a franchise’s value where it is he’ll stay. If he’s motivated to grow it he’ll push for a new stadium either here or in another city. Honestly I have no idea which way he leans or where he’ll draw the line. He was a huge force behind bringing the team to St Louis so it would seem kind of odd if he would just take the first opportunity to turn tail and move back to LA. Of course a lot has changed since 1995.
The more I think about this the more I’m starting to believe Stan will either agree to a partial extension to the lease or break it and remain in St Louis on a year by year basis. The later gives him the most leverage for his own stadium deal. The former wouldn’t hurt his ticket sales as much but it would hurt if his intention was to leverage the threat of LA to build in StL. I do not believe Stan will take either LA deal as they are being offered currently. I would suspect ultimately the Davis boy would require less to move back to LA so I could see that downtown deal evaporating real quick. Once LA falls so does the bargaining leverage but I suppose it could still be a viable bluff with a second stadium project still out there.
If I were Stan, I’d either take the portions of the CVC’S plan that generate revenue or request only minor renovations and that to 60 million be put into an account that could either be used for future renovations or the execution of a new stadium in St Louis when the Dome is truly at a point where it has to be replaced. I’d say by 2020 it would be time to get that ball rolling.
But if the population in St Louis want’s to do the typical Missouri thing of everyone holding onto their own with iron fist then the Rams most certainly will be going back to LA or some other community.
in case
anyone missed it, the nfl is loaning the Niners $200 million to build a new stadium. shame on the CVC…
If you're not on the Blackmon Bandwagon watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vf6e1Lz3Pw
That's because Candlestick Park
was opened in 1960.
"Fac Fortia et Patere"
by FailureDrill on Feb 3, 2012 8:29 AM CST via Android app up reply actions
What does this have to do with the CVC?
Seriously it would be beyond their authority to propose a new stadium. That would have to come from a different organization. The CVC trying to fulfill their obligation in a lease as best as they can.
The NFL would put up similar matching funds if Stan and StL would agree to develope a new stadium. It was a part of the new CBA.
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