Plan For New Rams Stadium Gets Boost

The construction of a new NFL stadium in St. Louis does not need voter approval to use city tax dollars, St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Thomas Frawley ruled on Monday, according to the St. Frawley accepted two of the arguments – that the law conflicted with state statutes governing development tools like tax increment financing, and that the law was too vague. However, there is language in the ordinance clearly stating that any new stadium would have to be built “adjacent” to an existing convention center or stadium, even though this stadium is being built several blocks away.

“‘Adjacent” has commonly been interpreted by Missouri courts to mean “near or close at hand, ‘” Frawley wrote in his ruling – and not necessarily, he continued, “touching each other”, the Post-Dispatch reported. Nixon created the stadium task force last year in an attempt to keep the Rams in St. Louis.

The ruling only further entrenches critics of the new stadium, who have loudly cited both adjacency and the need for a public vote as the two biggest problems with the current plan of action by a stadium task force convened by Gov. Jay Nixon.

” As we continue to make excellent progress on the stadium project, this is a great time for everyone in the St. Louis region to rally on behalf of something that will make a difference in our economy, national profile and quality of life for generations to come”, Peacock said.

John Ammann, a Saint Louis College regulation professor who filed a separate go well with that sought a metropolis vote on the stadium plan, stated it was “a frightful day for native democracy”.

French said he and his colleagues would be assessing their options in the coming days and other opponents indicated they would keep fighting the prospect of taxpayer dollars being allocated for the stadium without a public vote.

Mary Ellen Ponder, chief of staff to Mayor Francis Slay, called the ruling “very disappointing” and said the city will “honor the spirit of the ordinance”.

Ammann said his clients would appeal Frawley’s ruling on the request to intervene.

“From my point of view if they come up with a plan that looks pretty good and a strong financial package, I think we, the NFL have an obligation in my opinion to have a team in St. Louis”, New England owner Robert Kraft, a member of the NFL’s Los Angeles committee, said during the league’s spring meetings in Phoenix.

The ruling comes about a week before the stadium task force is scheduled to meet with NFL officials in Chicago.

This has long been considered a hold up as it relates to a new stadium in St. Louis. Bond extensions would offer $201 million – $66 million from the town and $135 million from the state. The rest would come from the NFL’s loan program, the team owner, and personal seat licenses.

The stadium could be ready for the 2019 season.