St. Louis Golden ArchesAn NBA Expansion Team Proposal

Adam Jolly, Conor Levey, & Ryan KillorenPeriod 7/8 Geography

9/30/2009

Why St. Louis?Why St. Louis?SPORTSSPORTS St. Louis has proven year after year that it St. Louis has proven year after year that it

can support two major sports teams.can support two major sports teams. Both teams, the Cardinals, of the MLB, and Both teams, the Cardinals, of the MLB, and

the Rams, of the NFL, have a history of the Rams, of the NFL, have a history of excellence.excellence.

St. Louis is near Oklahoma City, OK, St. Louis is near Oklahoma City, OK, Memphis, TN, Chicago, IL, and Indianapolis, Memphis, TN, Chicago, IL, and Indianapolis, IN, all home to NBA franchises.IN, all home to NBA franchises.

Why St. Louis?Why St. Louis?PEOPLEPEOPLE St. Louis has a metro population of nearly 2.8 St. Louis has a metro population of nearly 2.8

million, providing an large market from million, providing an large market from which to draw.which to draw.

The average age of a St. Louis resident is 33, The average age of a St. Louis resident is 33, right in the 18-35 age group essential for a right in the 18-35 age group essential for a sports teamsports team’’s success.s success.

Why St. Louis?Why St. Louis?FINANCESFINANCES St. Louis offers a property tax abatement and St. Louis offers a property tax abatement and

sales tax exemption on construction sales tax exemption on construction materials.materials.

Also offered are tax credits during the first Also offered are tax credits during the first seven taxable years, which can be put seven taxable years, which can be put towards paying taxes in subsequent years.towards paying taxes in subsequent years.

A Tradition of ExcellenceA Tradition of ExcellenceSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals The Cardinals have won a whopping 10 World The Cardinals have won a whopping 10 World

Series, in addition to seven more NL pennants, Series, in addition to seven more NL pennants, setting a standard for sports success in St. Louis.setting a standard for sports success in St. Louis.

St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams The Rams, since moving from Los Angeles, have The Rams, since moving from Los Angeles, have

won a Super Bowl (1999), and from 1999 to 2006, won a Super Bowl (1999), and from 1999 to 2006, never finished worse than second in their division.never finished worse than second in their division.

In L.A., they won two NFL championships, in 1949 In L.A., they won two NFL championships, in 1949 and 1951.and 1951.

Pro Basketball in St. LouisPro Basketball in St. LouisABAABA The Spirits of St. Louis were an ABA team The Spirits of St. Louis were an ABA team

from 1974-1976 that did not survive the from 1974-1976 that did not survive the ABA-NBA merger.ABA-NBA merger.

McDonaldMcDonald’’s Sponsorships Sponsorship The St. Louis Golden Arches would operate in close The St. Louis Golden Arches would operate in close

cooperation with McDonaldcooperation with McDonald’’s USA. The financial s USA. The financial backing of a 23 billion dollar organization would backing of a 23 billion dollar organization would provide stability and solidarity often not present in provide stability and solidarity often not present in expansion franchises.expansion franchises.

The partnership could also provide in-stadium food The partnership could also provide in-stadium food services, including Chipotle, a McDonaldservices, including Chipotle, a McDonald’’s subsidiary.s subsidiary.

McDonaldsMcDonalds’’ also sponsors a High also sponsors a High School All-American basketball game, School All-American basketball game, naturally tying them in to the sport.naturally tying them in to the sport.

McDonaldMcDonald’’s Sponsorships Sponsorship Ronald McDonald, the clown McDonaldRonald McDonald, the clown McDonald’’s uses as a s uses as a

corporate mascot for Happy Meals and corporate mascot for Happy Meals and the like, would be a natural the like, would be a natural entertainer at Golden Arches entertainer at Golden Arches games.games.

Additionally, the ArchesAdditionally, the Arches’’ name ties in with the name ties in with the Gateway Arch, which would Gateway Arch, which would be represented in alternate be represented in alternate uniforms in gray and white, uniforms in gray and white, with single arches versus the with single arches versus the double McDonalddouble McDonald’’s set.s set.

Stadium LocationStadium LocationScottrade CenterScottrade Center The Scottrade Center, a 19,150 seat arena home The Scottrade Center, a 19,150 seat arena home

to the St. Louis Blues of the NHL, is the perfect to the St. Louis Blues of the NHL, is the perfect location for the Golden Arches. Hockey arenas location for the Golden Arches. Hockey arenas and basketball stadiums are paired all over the and basketball stadiums are paired all over the country, notably in New York City (Madison country, notably in New York City (Madison Square Garden) and Square Garden) and Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. (The Verizon Center). (The Verizon Center).

UniformsUniforms

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<http://www.cardinalshistory.com/Championships.htm>.<http://www.cardinalshistory.com/Championships.htm>. "Greater St. Louis Taxes At a Glance." "Greater St. Louis Taxes At a Glance." St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth

Association (RCGA) - St. Louis, MOAssociation (RCGA) - St. Louis, MO. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. . Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://www.stlrcga.org/x484.xml>.<http://www.stlrcga.org/x484.xml>.

"Missouri Financing Programs." "Missouri Financing Programs." St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) - St. Louis, MOAssociation (RCGA) - St. Louis, MO. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. . Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://www.stlrcga.org/x3131.xml>.<http://www.stlrcga.org/x3131.xml>.

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"Spirits of St. Louis." "Spirits of St. Louis." Remember the ABARemember the ABA. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. . Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://www.remembertheaba.com/Spirits-of-St-Louis.html>.<http://www.remembertheaba.com/Spirits-of-St-Louis.html>.

"St. Louis city QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau." "St. Louis city QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau." State and County State and County QuickFactsQuickFacts. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. . Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29510.html>.<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29510.html>.

"St. Louis Rams History | NFL at CBSSports.com." "St. Louis Rams History | NFL at CBSSports.com." CBSSports.com Sports News, CBSSports.com Sports News, Fantasy Scores, Sports VideoFantasy Scores, Sports Video. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. . Web. 29 Sept. 2009. <http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/history/STL>.<http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/history/STL>.