St. Louis leaders: Kroenke won’t return our calls

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2013, file photo, Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Rams football team, left, talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during a break in the NFL fall meeting in Washington. A newspaper reports the owner of the Rams plans to build an NFL stadium in Los Angeles County, boosting the chances that pro football could return to the region. The Los Angeles Times says Kroenke has partnered with Stockbridge Capital Group, owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2013, file photo, Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Rams football team, left, talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during a break in the NFL fall meeting in Washington. A newspaper reports the owner of the Rams plans to build an NFL stadium in Los Angeles County, boosting the chances that pro football could return to the region. The Los Angeles Times says Kroenke has partnered with Stockbridge Capital Group, owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

By Associated Press January 7, 2015 1 min read

ST. LOUIS (AP) – St. Louis city officials say the owner of the Rams isn’t returning calls, so they plan to work directly with the league on keeping an NFL team in town.

Owner Stan Kroenke (KRAHN’-kee) is part of a group that announced plans Monday for an 80,000-seat stadium in the Los Angeles suburbs, a move that could return the NFL to the nation’s second-largest market. The Rams were in Los Angeles until 1995.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon isn’t giving up on the Rams and there is talk of a new stadium near the Mississippi River. City leaders say the plan now is to make the pitch to the league that St. Louis deserves to be an NFL city.

A Rams spokesman declined comment. Messages left at Kroenke’s office were not returned.