St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay says he’s working hard to keep the Cardinals downtown and keep the club from moving across the stateline to Illinois. And, Slay says the city is ready to give major concessions to the Cardinals’ owners in that effort and is talking with private investors to help. Slay won’t disclose the private investors he is talking to. He does say the city would provide tax breaks and improve infrastructure in an effort to close a $100-Million gap in the financing of a new ballpark. The State Legislature refused to contribute state money that would have completed the financing. The city is proposing cutting the 12.6 percent ticket tax the Cardinals pay to about 5.3 percent – a break that would total $4-Million a year and could help the club contribute more to the construction cost. Originally, the Cardinals pledged at least $138-Million, including the land on which Busch Stadium is built. The latest moves come as Illinois makes overtures to the Cardinals about moving across the river.
