Cardinals' plan gets wide acceptance

The threats to take the St. Louis Cardinals out of St. Louis were starting to look serious.

The team's owners wanted a new stadium and a new commercial and residential complex to go along with it. They wanted Missouri taxpayers to pay for it. And they wanted it now.

Now the Cardinals, along with St. Louis and Missouri officials, have come up with a plan that has wide support. Yes, taxpayers provide some of the funding, but it's indirect.

Ballpark Village -- that residential and commercial complex attached to the project -- is not a part of the current plan. The Cards get $29.45 million in state tax credits for the new stadium. The city drops its 5 percent amusement tax on tickets. St. Louis County sends some of its hotel tax the project's way. And the Missouri Department of Transportation considers easier access to the proposed stadium from Interstate 64. Private sources come up with the rest for the $325 million ballpark.

For now, baseball is still at home in downtown St. Louis.