Stadium Talk Not Over

Fans might still have a sour taste in their mouths over the threatened baseball strike, but state officials believe Missouri still needs to look for financing for a new stadium in downtown St. Louis. State Economic Development Director Joe Driskill says the Cardinals’ owners still want a new stadium and they might shop elsewhere if Missouri won’t build one. Driskill admits the Illinois State Legislature is dominated by Chicagolawmakers. Chicago is the home of the Cards biggest rivals, the Cubs. He says Cards and Illinois officials are talking about a new ticket tax to fund the stadium, possibly making a deal more palatable to the rival lawmakersby trying to keep it out of the budget process. Driskill says a similar ticket tax is not possible on this side of the Mississippi River.