Better ways to have spent $280 M in taxpayer money

[RichVRichV]

5. Actually the city is better off financially without the Rams.

People don't realize the Edward Jones Dome is just one part of a convention complex. The Dome/convention center is expected to bring in $23M this year in taxes from conventions and only $4.2M in taxes from the Rams. With the Rams gone they will be able to book more conventions.


The reason the Rams got out of the contract early was because the St. Louis CVC (Convention & Visitors Commission) that is in charge of maintaining the Dome refused mass renovations (basically a rebuild) to meet first tier requirements (stated the dome had to be top 10 stadium in the league last year) necessary to extend the lease for 10 years. One reason the CVC refused was because it would have put the convention center out of business for 2 years doing the rebuild (also it would have cost $600M rebuild to extend the lease for just 10 years).



Story on convention revenue.

Info on convention center