During a media teleconference on Wednesday morning, Governor Jay Nixon tabbed two prominent St. Louis area business and civic leaders with the task of laying out a plan for the state of Missouri to present to the Rams as a viable stadium option for keeping the NFL team in St. Louis.

Nixon has called on former Anheuser-Busch president Dave Peacock and Clayton attorney Bob Blitz to work over the next 60 days to analyze the current situation and present options that can be given to the NFL and Rams organization.

Nixon said there are no two better people to lead this charge, which needs to be completed within two months, so the state can communicate back to the Rams in advance of January 28th. That is the deadline the team set to provide notice of their intent to convert their lease with the dome from year to year.

Peacock was on the Pro Football Hall of Fame advisory board. According to Nixon, he brings expertise and contacts regionally and nationally that will help in this process. Peacock has also worked directly with the NFL on advertising and marketing matters while with A-B.

Blitz was part of the legal team that brought the Rams to St. Louis from Los Angeles.

“The NFL understands that we are very serious here. We are prepared to look at serious options to make sure we (St. Louis) stay an NFL city,” Nixon said.

Listen to Governor Nixon’s teleconference, including his opening statements and Q & A.

While Nixon didn’t share many details of the parameters that he has set for Peacock and Blitz to work within, Nixon acknowledged that tax payers must be protected and that private investment is a primary component of any proposal for NFL facilities in the St. Louis area.

Governor Nixon said all options are on the table, which could include building a new open air stadium. Nixon wouldn’t specifically comment on the area that is located north of Lumiere Place Casino and south of the Stan Musial Bridge on the north edge of downtown.

The state is still on the hook for $12 million and the city and county of St. Louis for $6 million apiece each year until 2025 to pay down the dome stadium debt.