St. Louis aldermen OK stadium deal

ST. LOUIS -- The city's Board of Aldermen voted Friday to approve a heavily negotiated deal to help build the St. Louis Cardinals a new stadium, becoming the first group of lawmakers to sign off on the plan.

The St. Louis County Council and the state Legislature must also approve the deal, which would place a total of about $200 million in public financing toward the $346 million project.

Following an hour of debate Friday afternoon, the board voted 22-5 to approve the deal. The retro-style ball park in the city's downtown, seating 49,000, would replace Busch Stadium and open for play in 2005.

The successful vote was expected, since the board's bill was sponsored by more aldermen than needed to approved it.

It commits the city to contributing $4.2 million annually for 30 years, or a total of $126 million over the life of the stadium lease. The first payment would not be made until 2005.