The Hidden Costs
By Andy Likes, TVG Vice President
You can’t pick up a paper, read a blog, get on social media or watch TV without hearing a story about Stan Kroenke moving the Rams to LA. Opinions have been swift and pointed. It seems no one wanted to see the Rams leave and it’s unclear just how many in LA are excited to see them play next season in the Coliseum. The immediate impact of the Rams leaving is obvious: for the first time in more than two decades, there will be no Sunday football in St. Louis. It would appear that Stan Kroenke has officially surpassed Bill Bidwill as the most hated man in St. Louis.
USA Today reported that Kroenke threatened owners with a collusion claim if they approved the Chargers/Raiders Carson, California project. Right now, the more immediate concern for our city and our region would be jobs and tax dollars lost. Not only are we talking about Rams workers, but Dome workers and staff, suppliers who will lose accounts, hotels and restaurants that will lose business, charities who stand to lose large donations, and so on. This could be seen as a major crisis for our region. This cost is in the millions, and that doesn’t count the Rams yearly lease on the Dome. One man’s will to move a franchise has far-reaching effects that could hurt St. Louis for years to come—if we let it.
The crisis communicator in me says we need to find the positive in all this. Yes, there is a chance the San Diego Chargers owner could move his franchise to the new National Car Rental Field. There is also a chance that Shad Khan, Illinois businessman and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, could move his team to St. Louis. No one really knows what’s next.
In almost any crisis, things are constantly moving and evolving and there is never enough information. Time is also precious. Time to find a new team, time to create new jobs, time to generate new tax dollars, and time to heal as fans, business owners and a region. This crisis is nothing new for a city. Just ask fans and leaders in Houston, Baltimore, Cleveland, Oakland and San Diego. How we react to this event will help define our region for years to come.