An ambitious blueprint for NFL in L.A.

Yesterday, an NFL gravy train got derailed. Today, billionaire developer Ed Roski is forging ahead with a news conference to talk about -- yes, bringing the NFL back to L.A. Though Roski visited the Titanic in a submarine and has already booked a space flight, his shot at pro football has Sam Farmer a wee bit skeptical:

Roski says he can build a football version of Staples Center for about $800 million, roughly half the price of the one being constructed for the Giants and Jets. He says he'll save a huge amount on steel, because half of his stadium rests on a hillside.

But it's not as if he's going to dip into his personal fortune to pay for this whole project. He wants help from the NFL in the form of a $150-million loan and the promise of at least one Super Bowl. The league has doled out that money for other stadiums, although it no longer has a G-3 loan program and would have to create a new one for L.A.

The NFL isn't in the business of giving without taking. Never has been. So what's unknown is what the other owners would want in exchange for that huge loan, the promise of one or more Super Bowls, and the rights to the nation's No. 2 market. This deal would come with ultra-strong cables -- not just strings -- attached.

Roski, along with Philip Anschutz, built the Staples Center. He owns a huge chunk of land near where the 57 and 60 freeways meet in the City of Industry. So why shouldn't he succeed? Some thoughts in Sam's full story.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Image: Meis Architects

Comments

[Mike Carrieri]

If this is the 2nd largest market, the other NFL owners will undoubtebly want a chunk (= Large) of the merchandising revenue. They may also require an ethics clause that somehow the NFL's brand not be associated with the infamously criminal element in the LA area. In other words, no headbands, Gothic design logos, or pandering to specific colors. Maybe make multi color shirts or a Pokemon/Hello Kitty!/Japanimation version of all the NFL logos and characters.

Mike

[Mr. Fab]

I can appreciate Mr. Farmer's stated skepticism, it smacks of actual journalism, a refreshing Times Sports page approach. It would be "un-L.A." for the hometown paper to actually root for something positive. Mr. Roski's stadium project ISN'T about the Times "writers". It's about Southland NFL & sports fans. THANK YOU Mr. Roski! There are LOTS of NFL fans like myself who'll gladly support a team coming here . . . EXCEPT The Chokeland Traitors. Once was enough with that bunch. Mr. Roski wants to bring an LA NFL team here ASAP. Maybe that's a GOOD thing, Times staff, & your coverage could consider if not reflect that.

Mr. Fab "The Last LA NFL Fan" ;-}

[Brian 'NFL LA.org' Pheneger]

Welcome Back NFL!

Thank you Mr. Roski for finally coming up with a plan outside of local government. I think the LA Saints or LA Jaguars would be great. The LA Vikings might actually be better. If we get a great owner, we could be the 'Yankees' of football and the first sports franchise to be worth $2 billion dollars. Compared with other large US cities, we have the best Prep football, best College footabll and would have the best NFL team for 17 million SoCal fans! Let's get it started!

Please vote on my Website: NFLLA.org

[Fred]

Lets go LosAngeles SAINTS.....or bring back the RAMS,the Vikings would be nice
they have the LAKER colors....

[LA Bulldog]

If the Jaguars,Saints or Vikes move to LA , it will cause a mess in the alignments. The only possible way to solve it would be if that team switched with another team. LA Vikings would be in the NFC West and the Rams could be in the North.. LA Saints would be in the NFC West and the Rams in the NFC South....The Jags on the other hand would have to switch conferences with probably the Rams, moving the Rams to the AFC South and the Jags to the NFC West. If they dont then the alignments would be messed up like they use to be. I dont think the NFL wants that again.