The stadium task force picked up an important victory Monday when St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Thomas Frawley voided a city ordinance requiring a public vote to approve the use of tax dollars in the funding of the football stadium proposed for the city's north riverfront.
This was a huge hurdle, and the task force cleared it in time for the Aug. 11 NFL owners' meeting in Chicago. The owners will convene to discuss the Los Angeles situation and rival stadium plans in the LA suburbs.
Owners also will be given progress reports on stadium efforts in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland.
The Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers are teaming to fund a joint stadium venture in Carson. Rams owner Stan Kroenke plans to build a stadium in Inglewood, Calif., that would house the Rams if he gains NFL approval to move the franchise out of St. Louis.
The Aug. 11 meeting looms as an important checkpoint.
St. Louis task force co-leader Dave Peacock told me the positive ruling will reaffirm the seriousness and viability of the stadium plan when NFL owners receive an update on the progress in St. Louis.
Peacock added that executives from the NFL office have continued to encourage the task force and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to "keep doing what you're doing" in the drive for the new stadium that could keep the Rams in St. Louis.
That, or at least ensure St. Louis of being in prime position to land another NFL franchise if an alternative arrangement is brokered in advance by the league.
Peacock has traveled to meet with at least two multiple NFL owners in recent weeks and has other meetings planned. Peacock thinks it's important to personally lobby as many individual NFL owners as he can to make sure they understand what's being done on the stadium front here and to address any questions or concerns.
Meanwhile, Nixon has remained in steady communication with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
This guarantees nothing of course. But any positive developments can only help the St. Louis cause.
Peacock firmly believes the league's encouragement is genuine, and he bases this on his longstanding relationships with Goodell, NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman, new NFL chief operating officer Tod Leiweke and several owners who have influence in league circles.
Peacock, formerly a successful executive at Anheuser-Busch, forged these relationships while negotiating massive marketing-sponsorship deals with the NFL and individual teams on behalf of Anheuser-Busch.
Feel free to sneer at the idea of the NFL being sincere or on the level in encouraging Peacock and Nixon to stay the course. The cynicism is understandable.
But knowing how much these NFL people respect Peacock, I'm inclined to believe they're being sincere in their dealings with him. I suppose we'll know for sure in due time.
Leiweke is an intriguing new player in this process, having been appointed league chief operating officer July 26. Leweike is a St. Louis native and grew up as a fan of the St. Louis football Cardinals.
Leiweke has been a high-ranking executive for a number of professional sports franchises during his career including the NFL Seattle Seahawks; the NBA Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors; the NHL Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning; and the MSL Seattle Sounders. Leiweke also held an executive position with the PGA.
In his capacities, Leiweke did a number of big deals with Peacock and another Anheuser-Busch executive and Peacock friend/ally, Peter McLoughlin, now the president of the Seattle Seahawks.
So in addition to having a good history with Goodell and Grubman, Peacock also has a strong connection with Leiweke. And that's no small thing, with Leiweke now second in command to Goodell in the league's hierarchy.
This doesn't mean St. Louis will be able to save the Rams, even if the new stadium materializes. But it does mean that Peacock has a direct line to the most powerful executives at NFL headquarters.
Sports on 08/05/2015