Governor signs bill to allow football stadium construction

Hopes of seeing an NFL team return to the Los Angeles area got a big boost this morning.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill allowing a development group to begin construction on a 75,000-seat stadium in the City of Industry. Officials involved with the project hope to lure an NFL team to the area with the stadium, which is expected to create 18,000 jobs and an estimated $762 million in economic growth.

Developer Majestic Realty Co. said it plans to approach seven NFL teams about moving to Industry. The company said the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers are among the teams they plan to contact.

The bill, which dismissed a lawsuit filed by local residents regarding the stadium's environmental impact, was approved by state senators last week.

Be sure to check back later at latimes.com/sports for Sam Farmer's take on what a new stadium could mean for football in Los Angeles.

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-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: An artist's rendering of a proposed stadium in the City of Industry. Credit: Mike Amaya / Meis Architects

Comments

[Steve]

I'm thinking the Governator is trying to get the RAMS back in town? lol

[Robert]

Huh? I'm confused. How does a BILL -- the legislature -- end up resulting in the dismissal of "a lawsuit filed by local residents regarding the stadium's environmental impact." This makes no sense. The legislature doesn't dismiss lawsuits, the courts do. Some judge said, "Gee, I guess the legislature and the governor want a stadium, and they know what's best despite the impact on the local community, so I'll leave it up to them"? Get real, LA Times. Or at least explain yourself.

[Tina Andolina]

Someone please tell me how stealing a team from one CA city and sending it to another creates jobs or increases revenue for our state. The Planning and Conservation League and many other conservation groups oppose this measure. All this bill does is send a loud message to all Californians: If the billionaire developer who is trying to run roughshod around your rights to speak up for your community hires a good enough lobbyists, you are rolled.

This bill was tailored specifically to allow Majestic Reality to avoid any accountability to the local residents that will be directly affected by this project. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the law Majestic is now exempt from, is there to ensure negative effects like air pollution and increased traffic are addressed. CEQA is in place to ensure that as we grow and develop, we do it right the first time. With the Governor’s signature of this bill today, he is clearly saying that it is more important to just do it, regardless of the impacts to the local communities.

[fred]

The Raiders?!? Good grief Charley Brown!

[Larr10]

Wooohoooo