If Gov. Jay Nixon is planning to stalled negotiations over the future of the Edward Jones Dome, he’s letting Rams owner Stan Kroenke take the first steps.
The governor told a lunch gathering of St. Louis-area business leaders Thursday that he’s waiting on Kroenke to propose improvements to the Dome and perhaps other ways for the team to make money off a stadium and surrounding properties.
“The ball’s in their court to say what they need for long-term stability,†Nixon said. “We look forward to hearing from them.â€
Nixon has emerged as an apparently key figure in the stadium talks after the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission earlier this month. Local officials have to study potential financing schemes and there has been speculation Nixon would engage in direct talks with Kroenke.
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When asked after a lunchtime speech at the St. Louis Regional Chamber about the status of those talks, Nixon declined to discuss specifics.
“At no time will I have those discussions in this context,†he told reporters.
But he did say that — which cost $720 million over 30 years — could free up cash to help fund a new or upgraded stadium. Currently, the state pays $12 million a year toward those bonds and St. Louis and St. Louis County each pay $6 million.
“There are financial mechanisms we can use,†he said. “But I don’t think anybody’s talking about the state or anyone else ponying up and building a brand new stadium.â€
Of course, Nixon hasn’t heard any proposals from Kroenke yet.
