Seems like the NFL doesn't want the Rams to stay in St. Louis based on recent stuff trying to keep the team in the city. Mostly in regards to a possible naming rights deal for a new stadium having a lower payout fee than they'd like or dwarfed by whatever a LA team would get instead.
NFL already cleared a possible stepping stone for a move to LA by having the Rams owner tweak his ownership of teams in other leagues. NFL has rules against cross-ownership if those teams are in different cities.
Quote:
National Car Rental secured the naming rights to the proposed riverfront stadium in St. Louis on Wednesday, pledging $158 million over 20 years. The agreement hinges on an NFL team -- the city is fighting to keep the Rams -- playing in the venue.
The move wasn't well-received by some in the NFL, however. They were puzzled that the deal was announced while league owners were meeting and didn't view the $7.9-million per year accord as particularly lucrative.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones jabbed the deal in a conversation with the Sports Business Journal, saying the amount "would buy a lobby" in an L.A. stadium.
The last time naming rights were sold for a proposed NFL stadium, Farmers Insurance pledged $700 million over 20 years for AEG's project in downtown L.A.
AEG abandoned the project -- known as Farmers Field -- earlier this year.
Neither of the current proposed stadiums in L.A. have sold naming rights.
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http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...007-story.html