"The effort to keep the Rams in St. Louis starts in earnest today, according to the public agency that manages the stadium.

Though billionaire owner Stan Kroenke has not publicly stated any desire to move the team, he can terminate the 1995 lease if, by 2015, the Edward Jones Dome isn't a "first-tier" stadium, or one that's better than three-quarters of all National Football League stadiums. And today is the deadline for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission to tell the team how it plans to upgrade the Dome and where it hopes to find the money.

CVC President Kathleen "Kitty" Ratcliffe said after a closed-session meeting of CVC commissioners last week that the proposal wouldn't be given to the Rams before today.

The Rams have until March 1 to accept or reject the CVC proposal, and until May 1 to make a counteroffer. The two sides would go into arbitration if a deal isn't struck by June 15. Without an agreement, the Rams would be free to relocate after March 1, 2015."