The Turbulent Journey of the Los Angeles Rams: From St. Louis to Back to Los Angeles

The history of the Los Angeles Rams is a complex one, marked by significant relocations due to a variety of factors. This article provides a comprehensive overview of their moves from Los Angeles to St. Louis and back to Los Angeles, highlighting the motivations behind these shifts and the broader trends in professional sports that influenced their decisions.

Why Did the Los Angeles Rams Move to St. Louis in 1995?

The Rams were founded in 1936 in Los Angeles and played there until 1995, when they moved to St. Louis. This relocation was not a simple one; it was driven by a combination of stadium concerns, financial incentives, and the desire for a new state-of-the-art facility.

Stadium Concerns

One of the key reasons for the move was the aging Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The coliseum, while historic, was outdated and unable to meet the modern needs of a professional football team. The Rams needed a venue that could offer better amenities, facilities, and fan experience. Additionally, the stadium was no longer capable of generating the high revenue that the team required to thrive.

Financial Incentives

The owner at the time, Georgia Frontière, was eager for a new stadium that could generate better financial returns. The city of St. Louis offered a new stadium deal with the construction of the Trans World Dome, now known as the Dome at Americas Center. This deal included substantial financial incentives that made the move to St. Louis more attractive. The promise of a modern stadium and improved revenue opportunities was crucial for the team's future success.

Desire for a New Stadium: Why Did the Rams Move Back to Los Angeles in 2016?

Several years after their move to St. Louis, the Rams faced financial challenges. Despite the initial success and the team's impressive performance during the "Greatest Show on Turf" era, the St. Louis market did not provide the same level of financial opportunities as larger markets like Los Angeles. The St. Louis market was not able to sustain the high revenue requirements necessary for a professional football team.

The Rams' Vision

Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Rams at the time, had a strong desire to return to Los Angeles because of his plans to build a new stadium in Inglewood, California, called SoFi Stadium. This stadium would be a state-of-the-art facility designed to generate significant revenue. With SoFi Stadium, the Rams would have access to a larger and more diverse fan base, which would translate into higher ticket sales, merchandise revenue, and advertising opportunities.

NFL’s Approval

In January 2016, the NFL owners officially voted to approve the Rams' relocation back to Los Angeles. The team returned for the 2016 season, marking the beginning of a new era for the Rams in their home city. This decision was influenced by the growing demand for a new, modern stadium and the economic benefits that such a stadium would bring to the region.

It is always about money and new stadiums. The former LA Rams owner, Georgia Frontière, did not want a new stadium for the team after having seen it move out of the aging LA Coliseum down the highway to Anaheim, where they shared a stadium with the Angels for a number of years. Eventually, she got a sweetheart deal to move the club to St. Louis, a city still smarting from the departure of the St. Louis Cardinals, who had skipped town in search of their own new stadium deal.

St. Louis built a new dome by some accounts on the cheap, and the Rams had their "Greatest Show on Turf," with two Super Bowl trips and one title, before a new owner with St. Louis roots but LA interests came along to buy the club and make plans for a return to LA and a new stadium in Inglewood.

The Rams' journey highlights the broader trends in professional sports regarding market size, stadium financing, and the search for optimal revenue opportunities. Moving from one city to another is often driven by the need for a better stadium, improved financial stability, and the desire to capitalize on larger market potential.