The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

[Guest]

Dr. Richard Chaifetz is leader of group trying to buy Rams | St. Louis Globe-Democrat

s the sale of the Rams moves toward a potential conclusion, Globe-Democrat.com has learned the identity of the leader of one of the three investor groups bidding for the team, and it’s a name familiar to St. Louisans:

Multiple sources identified the leader of the group as Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, a graduate of Saint Louis University who donated $12 million for naming rights to the arena where the Billikens play their home basketball games.

My hope still resides with Checketts group but its nice to hear that the Chicago bid has some St. Louis ties.

Hopefully the team is sold and kept in St. Louis within the next month and maybe down the line moved to another division/conference for new rivalries.

:helmet:

[MrOrange]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

from profootballtalk:

Three investors are involved in the potential purchase of the St. Louis Rams.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat has identified one of the three groups' leaders.

He is Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, a St. Louis University grad who donated $12 million to the school for naming rights to the Billikens' basketball arena.

While you collectively wonder what the heck a Billiken is, we'll tell you a little more about Chaifetz's potential ownership.

Chaifetz's group has reportedly offered about $725 million in its bid to buy 100 percent of the Rams. As a native St. Louisan, Chaifetz would obviously give the Rams a greater chance to stay in the city. Chaifetz owns the ComPsych Corporation, which provides employee assistance to over 25 million people and 10,000 organizations in 93 countries.

Chaifetz is competing with one group that may move the Rams to Toronto. The third group is led by St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts. Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that Checketts is not a leading candidate to purchase the organization.

According to Balzer, it's believed that Chaifetz is.

[PeoriaRam]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

Why is it that the big money guys in these groups are the sugar daddies of bad college programs? Why couldn't we get Florida's sugar daddy? Or Texas'?

[MoonJoe]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

from profootballtalk:


Chaifetz is competing with one group that may move the Rams to Toronto.

That sounds like a red herring to me!

[RebelYell]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

That sounds like a red herring to me!

I agree. The Bills are working that angle pretty well already.

[C-Mob 71]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

Sorry guys, but at this point the only people I hear talking about the Rams moving to LA are fans from California.

[MrOrange]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

That sounds like a red herring to me!

Agreed. Just thought I'd share more info on this story, even if it is from a less than reputable source.

[RAMFANRAIDERHATER]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

No offense to the Canadians, but if the Rams were to move to Toronto, or any another country, they can kiss my you-know-what and will forever lose me as a fan.

It's an American game, and they belong in the US.

...just like hockey. ;)

[HUbison]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

So now the 3 choices are St. Louis, Toronto, or St. Louis. Interesting.

[txramsfan]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

This guy backed out already

[MoonJoe]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

Sorry guys, but at this point the only people I hear talking about the Rams moving to LA are fans from California.

I'm sorry, but how is that pertinent to this thread?

[BIG-BLUE]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

This guy backed out already

yea like 3 or 4 months ago.

[RebelYell]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

yea like 3 or 4 months ago.

That's what Bernie argues (and gets defensive about) but who is his source? Oh wait, it's a double secret source deep undercover. Bernie does nothing but retell whatever crap is being spun to him and then acts like it's a fact. Why do people believe anything he writes?

Bernie says Checkett's has the worst of the three bids financially, is adding investors, admits he doesn't have the money yet argues he does have the money and then says Checkett's is likely going to win. All with no sources and nobody willing to go on the record but it's reported as fact.

[HUbison]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

Here's the relevant portion of the original Balzer story in the G-D.

Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz did not deny Wednesday that he is involved in a group trying to purchase the St. Louis Rams.

Reached at the Chicago offices of ComPsych Corporation, where he is the chairman and CEO, Chaifetz was asked by Globe-Democrat.com if he was included in one of three groups known to have submitted bids for the Rams.

"You know I can't comment about that," said Chaifetz, who donated $12 million for the naming rights to Chaifetz Arena in 2008, the new home for Saint Louis University's basketball team.

League sources told Globe-Democrat.com that while Chaifetz might not be the lead investor of the group, he "is among those in the running."

While not directly admitting his involvement, Chaifetz spent 10 minutes on the phone asking questions about what was being said in St. Louis about the sale of the Rams.

When wished luck if he was indeed one of the potential buyers, Chaifetz replied, "Thank you, I appreciate that."

Globe-Democrat.com reported last week that the Chicago group was the closest to buying the team. That group was said to have offered in the area of $725 million for 100 percent of the franchise.

Dr. Richard Chaifetz donated $12 million to Saint Louis University for the construction of the Chaifetz Arena. He is now trying to purchase the St. Louis Rams.
The other investors in the group are not known and it also is not known how much of a percentage Chaifetz would have. However, his inclusion in the group is seen as a good sign for the desire to keep the Rams in St. Louis.

So Balzer says Chaifetz is in.......
Miklasz says Chaifetz is out.....

Who's right? Who's wrong?

[RebelYell]

Re: The Chicago Group Has St. Louis ties

Here's the relevant portion of the original Balzer story in the G-D. So Balzer says Chaifetz is in.......
Miklasz says Chaifetz is out.....

Who's right? Who's wrong?

Chaifetz implied in the interview that he is subject to the non-disclosure agreement by saying he can't discuss a bid. If you aren't involved any longer, I seriously doubt there would be legal repercussions to saying "I have decided to pursue other interests at this time". So basically either he's involved or he's a massive attention ***** wanting everyone to talk to him.

Bernie hasn't said he's interviewed Chaifetz, only that it's been told to him by a source not willing to be identified. Couldn't any internet hack make that declaration? We obviously need the Clan Ram's Bernie M. to rush in and clarify this all for us.