NFL to join UCLA in Rose Bowl?

The NFL could return to Los Angeles in 2009 — and the team might take up temporary residence in the Rose Bowl.

At a cocktail reception Wednesday night in Century City, a group of local business leaders was treated to an encore of the Los Angeles Stadium presentation that recently was given to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The project is spearheaded by Majestic Reality, run by developer Ed Roski (who also has a minority stake in the Lakers and Kings and is chairman of the USC Board of Trustees). Plans were originally announced in April, but Wednesday's event demonstrated continued conviction and a better sense of the project's time line.

Roski reportedly is prepared to plunk down a cool $1 billion of his own money on an NFL franchise. In order to meet objectives, the team might have to relocate to the Southland by 2009. Majestic Vice President John Semcken seemed very optimistic that it would kick off in the Rose Bowl next September. The new stadium could break ground in the City of Industry in the next few months and could be ready for the team by the 2011 season.

From a not-so-casual observer's perspective, the presentation was extremely impressive and the proposed stadium boasts features that most Angelinos couldn't have dreamed of just a few years ago. The plans are creative, the solutions are practical, and the capital — both fiscal and political — seems to be there. The business model is downright savvy. Obviously this region has been teased in the past, but maybe, just maybe, this is the solution we've been waiting for.

The only thing that raised this writer's eyebrow was that Majestic had hired a consultant already under contract with the NFL. It's a well-calculated move that will help them navigate through any of the league's red tape. Hopefully they're getting plenty of independent advice, as well.

One of the cooler aspects of the stadium is a focus on "green" construction. The design limits the amount of steel for construction, avoids unnecessary air-conditioning and heating, uses gray water and is convenient to public transportation. Don't worry, there's still plenty of parking and lots of freeway access.

As for which team might come to Los Angeles? Officials are tight-lipped about specifics, but said that certain targets are obvious. The California teams (Oakland, San Francisco and San Diego) have bad stadiums and face major obstacles in building new ones in their current cities. Moving those teams also would avoid confusing the existing NFL divisions. Jacksonville, Buffalo, New Orleans and Minnesota are all in "financial distress." The Rams are also having money issues, but contractual obligations probably would keep them in St. Louis for several more years and that wouldn't fit the time frame of Majestic's proposal. Whichever team comes to L.A., officials hope to have them signed by June 2009 and maybe as soon as April.

And don't forget this twist — the stadium is designed to hold two franchises.

Comments

[Bobak]

Why do people think the NFL will be all that welcome? They might as well build the stadium in Riverside.

[pk-in-the-mesa]

Yes I agree, and they have been using L.A. as means to get other cities to step up and they will never give us a new franchise.

[Ward]

I think they should get a new team called the "hobos"

why hobos? because the team will be on the first train out when the attendance peters out in year 3.

[mauricio]

bring back the oakland raiders to LA its all about the raiders

[Steve]

City of Industry? Yeah, that's a great LA postcard shot for the rest of the country!

[Adam Rose]

The Lakers play downtown but during the NBA finals they kept showing a helicopter shot of the Santa Monica Pier.

[Mr. Fab]

Mr.Roski's current LA NFL stadium proposal is simply THE BEST the Southland's had since the Rams & Raiders left. As such it has the most likely chance to succeed. The new modern revenue streams it offers in addition to ticket sales will likely lure an NFL team here . . . it could be a year from now, it could be 10 or less, or more. LA NFL Football has the local hometown hometeam potential to be the Lakers PLUS the Dodtgers in terms of onfield success, revenue potential, actual civic asset. NOTHING equals The Mighty NFL in terms of sports entertainment, @ least in THIS country and I still maintain this community. The Southland is a football playing & watching sports community as well as baseball & track & field. LA NFL, a couple nice seats between the 20 yard lines, I'm HAPPY! SIgned, "The Last LA NFL Fan"

[NFL]

Who are they trying to kid????????? This is the City of Industry Stadium. .... Not the Los Angeles Stadium. City of Industry is near Pomona. This is not a LA Stadium and the team will be THE CITY OF INDUSTRY FOOTBALL TEAM.... IN THE CITY OF INDUSTRY. HE IS STILL ASKING FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDS. HE HAS NOT BUILT A LOS ANGELES STADIUM YET BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO SECOND HAND THE LOCATION BY PLACING THE LOS ANGELES STADIUM IN THE CITY OF INDUSTRY WHICH IS ABOUT 40 MIN. DRIVE FROM LOS ANGELES. GIVE IT UP .... YOUR BEST INTEREST IS NOT FOR LOS ANGELES OR THE NFL BUT INSTEAD FOR YOUR OWN POCKET WITH THE LAND YOU HAVE IN 'THE CITY OF INDUSTRY' NOT LA.

[Jack]

The stadium in question is only 20 miles away from downtown LA. The LA metropolitan area is huge and spread out. I think it's the perfect spot. It's near the 71, 60, 10, 57, and 210 freeways which go everywhere in southern California. The 10 and 60 freeways will bring people in from West LA and the Inland Empire(Riverside Coachella Valley), the 57 from the O.C., 210 from north LA(Pasadena, San Fernando Valley) and high desert(Victorville), and the 71 that connects from the 91 freeway which is a huge corridor. My point is, the area is a pretty good spot. It's still in Los Angeles county!

[pointguard]

That is at least a 40 min. drive from Los Angeles probly more like an 1 hour drive with LA traffic. That is the City
of Industry Stadium and The City of Industry Football Team. They are right call the spade "the spades". Someone real will bring us a Los Angels Stadium

Do not mistake LA "Los Angeles Stadium" for any hu
dickey stadium they try to put up in the middle of tim buck two..... like trying to call Carson City Stadium the "Los Angeles Stadium" The NFL is not dumb.... they will figure out that Roski is trying to call the "City of Industry Stadium"
and the City of Industry football team "LA".

[Tired of no team in LA, CA]

Regarding your "The Stadium in Question" : There is no question: The "LA metropolitan" Ha Ha Ha Ha . City of Industry and Pomona are not the "LA Metropolitan".
If you lived in LA you would know this. You must be Roski's attorney with "The Stadium in Question" and
what are you trying to sell anyway (because your interest is not for Los Angeles public or LA to have a Los Angeles Stadium)?

Why don't you put in an application in with someone who
is actualy building a Stadium in Los Angeles and then
try to sell that pitch.

By the way the perfect spot would be in Los Angeles.
Not the City of Industry 40 min. to 1 hour from Los Angeles. Pomona is City of Industry's neighbor and is bigger than the City of Industry. Call your Stadium the Pomona CA Stadium.

[Jack]

Again, I'd have to disagree. The colosseum and dodger stadium were put in Los Angeles way back when because that's where the population was centered. The population now is all over southern california; Pomona being the center. Are you kidding me? A 40 minute drive? People drive longer to work. People in Pomona, CA drive in LA and the OC everyday to work. Have you tried to build anything in the city of Los Angeles lately? They can't even get the Grand Ave project completed. The City Council is full of retards and the city is backlogged with just about everything these days. It took them 10 years to update LAX and that's delayed. There are more than 12 million people within a 30 mile radius of the stadium. The only other stadium in the United States with that many people within a 30 mile radius is New York with 15 million and they have 2 teams.

[Tired of no Team in LA]

1.
If LA's City Council is full of retards (as you stated) and LA is not the Most famous city in the World......and Pomona or the City of Industry is the center not LA (in YOUR OPINION) ...... then also call your stadium the Pomona Stadium or the City of Industry Stadium not
LA Stadium. (trying to fool yourself again)

2.
Buy the way, you should also announce that the population in the City of Industry is 799 people period
from statistics... with a working population of approx.
350 people (that is three hundred and fifty people) let
me spell it out for you.

3.
No one built a stadium in LA yet because they did
not have a sufficient plan yet.

4.
You have to use your Stadium's "Central" population
because you only have 700 to 800 people in your
City of Industry to build your Stadium. LA can
stand alone on its population and a 10 mile radius
even. City of Industry or Pomona will NEVER be
the city LA is and that is why you want to use their
name LA Stadium because you have to ride on LA's
coat tails to accomplish any structure however, "guaranteed" there will be a LA Stadium Built before your Pomona or City of Industry City is built.

[Tired of no Team in LA]

4.
And the City the LA Stadium is built in will be in the
#1 City in the World: Los Angeles

Wake up Jack and give it up, your not fooling anyone!!!

5.
TV, advertisers and all the sponsors will not pay for a
City of Industry Stadium or
a Pomona Stadium which is exactly all you have with your 700-800 (that is hundred)population.

[Tired of no Team in LA]

In case you need statistics

Largest Cities in the United States as follows:

--------

1 - New York City, New York

2 - Los Angeles, California

3 - Chicago, Illinois

4 - Houston, Texas

5 - Phoenix, Arizona

6 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7 - San Antonio, Texas

8 - San Diego, California

9 - Dallas, Texas

10 - San Jose, California

11 - Detroit, Michigan

12 - Jacksonville, Florida

13 - Indianapolis, Indiana

14 - San Francisco, California

15 - Columbus, Ohio

16 - Austin, Texas

17 - Memphis, Tennessee

18 - Fort Worth, Texas

19 - Baltimore, Maryland

20 - Charlotte, North Carolina

21 - El Paso, Texas

22 - Boston, Massachusetts

23 - Seattle, Washington

24 - Washington, D.C.

25 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

26 - Denver, Colorado

27 - Louisville, Kentucky

28 - Las Vegas, Nevada

29 - Nashville, Tennessee

30 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

31 - Portland, Oregon

32 - Tucson, Arizona

33 - Albuquerque, New Mexico

34 - Atlanta,Georgia

35 - Long Beach, California

36 - Fresno, California

37 - Sacramento, California

38 - Mesa, Arizona

39 - Kansas City, Missouri

40 - Cleveland, Ohio

41- Virginia Beach, Virginia

42- Omaha, Nebraska

43- Miami, Florida

44- Oakland, California

45- Tulsa, Oklahoma

There is no Pomona or the City of Industry with a population of 800 people.

The Los Angeles Stadium will be built in a Los Angeles or a 5 mile radius

No Pomona and No city of industry Stadium

[Tired of no Team in LA]

Incidentally: The population of New York City is only 8.2Mil

[Ray]

Lets just get a team in the greater LA area and get back in the game. Angelenos should be used to a commute. Anaheim Stadium was even further from LA. Industry has an existing facility for a football stadium with a cool name but it's used for shopping. It's called the Citadel. Lets go LA Gladiators!!!

[Jack]

Dream on. The City of Los Angeles city council doesn't want anything to do with another stadium within their city limits. Why do you think they have to go out to the City of Industry? It doesn't matter what the population of the city of industry, what matters is the population in the vicinity. If you go one block over, you're in diamond bar, another block over, you're in Walnut. If you go 1 mile north, you're in Pomona. If you go 3 miles east, you're in West Covina. If you go 29 miles west, you're at the center of the most popular city in the world.

I don't get your argument about statistics. It's skewed and simply wrong. Los Angeles CITY has a population of about 3.8 million. But the LOS ANGELES metropolitan area has 12.8 million. Would it be a wise and prudent business decision to put a stadium in the center of 12.8 million people? Let me remind you, there are NO tax dollars going into the building of this stadium. It actually doesn't matter if the Los Angeles is as you say the most famous city in the world. That has nothing to do with the argument. Plus, it's around within 6 miles of 5 freeways.

Where do you think the LOS ANGELES county fair is held every year? You guessed it, the fairplex in Pomona.

There have tons of plans to build stadiums in Los Angeles. In 2001, there was a plan to build a stadium near the staples center with private funding. Shot down by city council. Numerous times there have been proposals for building a stadium in the chavez ravine, but again, city council shoved that out. Coliseum renovation is a whole other story. So, get get a plan that the council will approve and I will approve it also.

[Ken]

Jack, I totally agree with you.

I don't understand why some have issues with whether the stadium is physically located in the CITY of LA or about the stadium being called "Los Angeles Stadium" if it's built in the City of Industry.

The COUNTY of LOS ANGELES extends far beyond the borders of the actual City of Los Angeles. There are nearly 10 Million People who live in LA COUNTY alone, as opposed to just 4 Million in the City of Los Angeles. Why not embrace this new stadium in the City of Industry which will benefit and encompass all who live in the Los Angeles area? The name is still fitting as it is located within Los Angeles County, and it is truly only 35 minutes from Downtown (I commute from Downtown to Industry twice a week).

As for those who still feel strongly about having a NFL Stadium built in the City of LA, here's the million dollar question for all of you:

Where would you propose building a stadium in the CITY of Los Angeles that would be financiallly beneficial for both the city and the new team, and still be centrally located in the CITY of LA? Downtown LA? Chavez Ravine? Are you kidding??? There is just way too much red tape, geographic limitations, and financial obligations required from the CITY of LA to make this happen.

It's absolute fact that the CITY of Los Angeles and it's officials have had several opportunities in the past to lure a NFL team back to LA. Its been nearly 14 years since the Raiders left town, and since then, the CITY of LA has made only marginal attempts to attract an NFL team back to the city.

Keep in mind that since the Raiders skipped town and left the second largest media market in the country, the NFL has awarded five other cities with either new or relocated teams: Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Carolina (two of the five lost their previous NFL teams, but were able to convince the NFL to put a team back in their cities). These cities are much smaller in every respect (population, media coverage, etc.); yet, the NFL and team owners felt these areas offered greater financial incentives and benefits than the proposals from the CITY of LA.

What does that tell you about the City of LA's plans to lure a team or build a new stadium? They just keep on recycling the idea of of renovating the Coliseum. Even back in 94 when they made a proposal to to keep the Raiders in town, the plans were just atrocious, and all of their recent attempts to attract another NFL franchise have been mediocre at best.

Heck, we couldn't even attract the lowly Arizona Cardinals to even consider moving out here when they were looking for a new place to move.

At the end of the day, I'll be happy just to have a team back in LA!

[RuFF]

What's with the whining about it being in City of Industry. Both of NY's teams play in NJ. In remote Rutherford, NJ. The New England Patriots play in remote Foxboro between Boston and Providence. It is not uncommon for a sports team to play outside of the city limits of the city they play for. This dweeb said 350 people work in City of Industry. That is incorrect, about 80k people work in Industry.

[PomonaFaSho22]

LA is already too overcrowded, Pomona and Industry need as many new jobs as can be conceived. I hope that the plans come to fruition and that the well being of the common people is taken into consideration.