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St. Louis set a new attendance record in the XFL on Sunday when the St. Louis Battlehawks played for the first time at home this season against the Arlington Renegades. A total of 38,310 fans turned up at The Dome at America's Center to watch the game.
This has seen the call from a section of fans for the return of the NFL to the city. Located in the heartland of America, the city has a long history of being passionate about sports. Having previously hosted the NFL's Rams, does the city deserve a second chance in pro football's top flight?
St. Louis' Previous Relationship with the NFL
St. Louis had its first NFL franchise as far back as 1960 when the Cardinals moved from Chicago to the city. The Cardinals played their first home game at their new home on October 2, 1960, at Busch Stadium against the New York Giants.
The Cardinals were known as the "Big Red'' during their time in the city. They had successful years during their first two decades in the city. However, the early 80s saw a decline in the team's fortunes and they decided to move to Arizona in 1987.
The NFL returned to the region in 1995 when the Los Angeles Rams relocated to the city. The St. Louis Rams also recorded successes during their time in the city, winning Super Bowl XXXVI in 2000. But stadium concerns ultimately led to a return to Los Angeles for the Rams in 2016.
Probability of Having a New NFL Team in St. Louis
The NFL doesn’t seem to be coming to St. Louis anytime soon and the possibility of a future franchise is very slim. This is pretty much due to the way the previous divorce happened. The events following the exit of the Rams have probably gotten the city blacklisted by the NFL.
The Rams decided to leave the region citing stadium concerns, which was leading to a market decline. Efforts to replace the outdated Edward Jones Stadium were unsuccessful. The Rams' decision to leave wasn't taken lightly by the city, which led to court cases.
The NFL brokered a deal with the city's attorneys, which saw them pay $790 million to the local municipality, for the closure of the case. This unhealthy separation between the NFL and the city is one big reason we might not see an NFL team there in the near future.
Moreso, the city hasn't proven to be a big enough market for the ever-growing NFL, considering the Rams' latest experience. The existence of the stadium issue is another reason for one to pass off the idea. The city will definitely be behind the likes of Oakland, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Antonio if there's ever a need for expansion teams in the NFL.
