Field of Schemes: StL stadium chief: Replace dome, or lose Rams

Field of Schemes: StL stadium chief: Replace dome, or lose Rams

Pro sports extortion never ends: "[S]o-called 'state-of-the-art' clauses in stadium deals are a nightmare for cities, and a boon to team owners. The only thing the people of St. Louis are getting in exchange for their $36 million a year (plus $30 million in renovations currently underway) is the presence of a football team for 30 years - thanks to that well-placed clause, though, they're now facing another round of stadium blackmail when the paint is barely dry from the first one." The Cincinnati Bengals lease requires installation of "any new technologies in use by 14 other NFL teams, up to and including 'holographic replay systems.'"