ST. LOUIS — A plan to divide more than a half-billion dollars in settlement money for the departure of the NFL's Rams from St. Louis received final approval Wednesday.
The board of the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Authority, which owns the domed stadium where the Rams played before leaving for Los Angeles in 2016, approved an agreement announced Nov. 22.
The city of St. Louis will receive $250 million, St. Louis County will get $169 million and the RSA will receive $70 million. Another $30 million will help pay for an expansion of the America’s Center convention center, which is attached to the dome. Although the dome is in the city of St. Louis, county taxpayers helped pay for it.
"The unanimous vote today by the Regional Sports Authority demonstrates the strong support for how the Rams funds will be distributed," St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said Wednesday in a statement posted to Twitter. "My office will work closely with the county council and listen to all suggestions to find the best ways to invest in [St. Louis County's] future."
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones's Chief of Staff said her office is focused on spending $219 million American Rescue Act Funds first because there's a deadline. After that, St. Louis leaders will get public input on the best use for the funds.
"The money will be invested in a safe responsible manner to allow for a robust community debate," Chief of Staff Jared Boyd said. "We aren't in a hurry; this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have to get it right. While we are working towards getting it right, the funds will be invested in a responsible manner."
During Wednesday's meeting, Explore St. Louis President Kitty Ratcliffe said 2023 will be a big year. Chairman of the Regional Sports Authority Rev. Earl Nance said his organization plans to use the funds to upgrade and maintain The Dome and Convention Center.
"I think they should move immediately, judiciously," Nance said. "Hopefully not take as much time as it took to make this deal. I'm happy for the city and county to have the opportunity to use and invest the money, so they have long range plans and short-range plans to better the citizens of St. Louis City and County."
St. Louis interests sued the league and Rams owner Stan Kroenke after NFL owners approved the team's move to Los Angeles in 2016. They sought more than $1 billion in damages.
A $790 million settlement was reached in November 2021. About $275 million went to attorney fees. That left $512 million, and interest brought the total to around $519 million.
The suit claimed the NFL violated its own relocation guidelines, and that the league and the Rams enriched themselves at the expense of the community they abandoned.
5 On Your Side's Robert Townsend got local reaction to the deal.
“I think there are a lot of ways they can spend it, but the schools are really important. My daughter’s in the public schools. I think there are ways that they can support doing different things for the schools," St. Louis City resident, Tabari Coleman said.
“I hope that they do smart things with it,” Pat White, the president of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council AFL-CIO, said.
White is crossing his fingers that many of his union members will benefit from the Rams settlement.
“As far as you know, helping the region out. You know whether that means paying who we have working in these areas more or whether that means bringing more jobs here. We’re all for that,” White also said.
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