Sen. Eric Schmitt pushes for NFL return to St. Louis amid stadium, funding, regional issues

Renewed push, familiar obstacles

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt is calling for the National Football League to return to St. Louis, reopening a debate that has simmered since the Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles after the 2015 season. St. Louis has been without an NFL franchise since that move, which triggered years of litigation and a major financial settlement.

In November 2021, the NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed to a $790 million settlement with the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority (RSA). The settlement resolved claims tied to the relocation process and the region’s alleged economic damages. Subsequent agreements divided the net proceeds among the three local entities, with a portion earmarked for improvements connected to the Dome at America’s Center complex.

What St. Louis has — and what it lacks

St. Louis’ central venue for pro football remains the Dome at America’s Center, the former home of the Rams and a current home field for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. But the building’s long-term outlook has become a central issue in any conversation about NFL feasibility.

A Missouri State Auditor’s report released in August 2025 found the Dome faces substantial projected repair and maintenance needs over the next decade and does not have sufficient funding set aside to meet those obligations. The report also highlighted governance and oversight concerns tied to earlier stadium planning efforts during the period when regional leaders pursued a new riverfront venue concept.

Regional coordination and the “who pays” question

Any NFL return plan would likely require a coordinated public-private financing strategy and regional agreement across city and county lines. Local leaders have emphasized that settlement dollars are already under pressure from competing needs, including public safety and public health demands.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page’s office indicated that the county’s immediate focus is addressing service reductions linked to county budget decisions, while also leaving open the possibility that NFL settlement funds could be part of a broader package if a stable revenue source is secured.

Key facts shaping the path forward

• The NFL’s last departure from St. Louis ended in a $790 million settlement paid to local entities in 2021.
• The Dome at America’s Center remains the region’s major football-ready facility but faces significant long-term capital needs and funding gaps identified in a 2025 state audit.
• Local officials have signaled that settlement funds are intertwined with other budget priorities, limiting flexibility without new revenues.

What would come next

Schmitt’s call adds national-profile attention to the issue, but the practical steps toward landing an NFL team would hinge on stadium readiness, a durable financing plan, and unified regional governance. With no formal franchise award process underway for St. Louis, the debate now centers on whether the region can assemble the institutional alignment and infrastructure plan required to compete for a team if an opportunity emerges.

St. Louis’ NFL prospects are likely to be determined less by declarations than by funding capacity, facility conditions, and regional agreement on a plan.