St. Louis Sports Online

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Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 (8:00-9:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Remember that famous scene from the movie "Field of Dreams", when the Lead Character, played by Kevin Costner, hears the voice which says "If you build it, he will come"?

This slogan has been slightly alerted in the professional sports world of the 1990's: "If you build it, will they stay?" Many professional sport franchises have profited from this philosophy/threat.

St. Louis, Missouri knows this slogan far too well. For three years during the mid-1980's, Bill Bidwill asked the community to build his Football Cardinals a new stadium in order to be competitive in that arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League. We didn't build it-and they went; straight to Arizona. Seven years later, our town did construct a football palace for a group of West Coast transients called the Rams, at a much higher price tag.

Yet, we built it and they came. For its generosity, the Rams reciprocated the region with of an NFL team which has compiled a 22-42 win/loss record (or .344 winning percentage) during their four season Gateway City tenure.

Earlier this decade, the St. Louis Blues voiced concern about their old, but charming, Fire Trap at 5700 Oakland Avenue. The hockey faithful still had horrible memories of the near franchise liquidation at the end of the Solomon era and the near relocation to Saskatoon in 1983. After City Hall and Civic Progress Board Rooms power struggles, Kiel Center was eventually erected.

See, if you build it-they will stay. (Although, isn't it ironic that both the team and the building are now up for sale? Another story for another day)

We have seen the city of St. Petersburg, Florida build an indoor baseball dome for a team which they never had. Nashville, Tennessee and Hartford, Connecticut have lured NFL teams with the perk of new facilities. We have also seen bond referendums in San Diego, Seattle, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and other communities hoping that if they built it, the their local teams would stay in their region. Heck, even the fabled New York Yankees are seriously considering leaving the Bronx for Manhattan or New Jersey.

All of this brings us to the Home Team-the Baseball Cardinals. They are the most revered professional sports franchise in this town and one of the charter members of Major League Baseball. Earlier this month, the owners of the Red Birds openly discussed an issue which was hinted in December, 1995, when the team was purchased; the need for a new baseball stadium "in the near future".

Oh yeah, one other thing about this new stadium; the Cardinals feel that this new facility should be primarily publicly funded.

There is historical irony with this stadium situation. When the current facility at 250 Stadium Plaza opened for business on May 12,1966, it was owned by Civic Center Redevelopment Corporation. This corporation was formed to oversee the operation and upkeep of Busch Memorial Stadium. In 1966, the Baseball and Football Cardinals were tenants of Civic Center.

Then in 1980, August Busch III., Chairman of the Board of Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., the parent company of the St. Louis National Baseball Club Inc. (a.k.a.: the St. Louis Cardinals) indicated that in order to remain competitive, the baseball team should own the Stadium. Hence, the Brewery made an offer to purchase Civic Center.

Busch III concluded his remarks, for all to hear, implying that if the Stadium could not be obtained, he would have to consider selling or moving the Cardinals out of St. Louis.

We then learned that aside from pulling on Superman's cape, or spitting into the wind, that we do not mess with Anheuser-Busch!! Civic Center was purchased by A.B becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brewery. New revenue streams (such as luxury boxes, party rooms, and concessions) plus a spiffy new logo (complete with the A and Eagle) for the Stadium followed.

When the current ownership team purchased the ball club and stadium from the Brewery in 1995, today's sports business climate dictates that the Stadium be publicly owned. In less than 35 years, this stadium situation has gone full circle.

With that's said, let's establish one fundamental point: if the Cardinals want a new baseball stadium in St. Louis, they are going to get it. The local government and business officials simply will not risk facing the backlash of residents if this baseball team even considers leaving the area. Also, there are between 2.5 to 3 Million annual reasons why Major League Baseball will not leave this market. Bottom line, and pardon the pun: the Red Birds hold all the cards in this deal. You won't see this Cardinal Ownership Team gloat or demand. But they are well aware that they hold four aces in this poker game.

But if St. Louis does construct a new baseball palace; just where will it be located? Logic tells you that the new park should be built right across the street and immediately south of the ball park; on the current Bus Parking Lot. This location makes the most sense; taking full advantage of its accessibility to the parking garages/lots and Inter-State highways.

Most importantly though, the City of St. Louis MUST keep the Cardinals within its boundaries. They simply can not afford to let the Red Birds to leave the City. Aside from losing the glamour of baseball-the City will lose not just the much needed ticket-tax revenue, but, a vital tourist attraction which brings thousands of people into a dwindling downtown area.

Add to this pressure, the Mayor Harmon and the City could face competing offers from St. Louis County, St. Charles, and the Metro East for the bragging rights as the new home of the Cardinals.

The ball club would be foolish not to use this leverage during negotiations. With these competing factors, -the Cardinals will be the big winners at the end of the day.

With any publicly owned facility, it stands to reason that the public will pick up the bill. But how?? There could be a tax increase or perhaps a bond issue. However we all know what might be just around the corner to pay the lion's share of this new facility:

Allow me spell it for you: P S L

That's right. Those dreaded personal seat licenses could again rear its head when the time comes to fund a new baseball facility. Let's face it, PSL'S are the revenue streams of the 1990's and beyond.

Imagine; even YOU could be a Cardinal and Ram PSL Holder. I can see the posters now with Mark Mc Gwire and Tony Banks!!

In all likelihood, the Cardinals will be christening a new stadium within the next decade or so. It will be fascinating to see how this real estate scenario plays out. Regardless, this will however, puts a new twist to a very familiar phrase:

If you build it-they will stay. But Where?