NFL in L.A. Gets New Blueprint

0

Convinced he can succeed where so many before him have failed, billionaire developer Ed Roski today will unveil plans for a proposed NFL stadium in the City of Industry, aimed at luring the league back to the Los Angeles area, the Los Angeles Times reports.


NFL executives have already visited the site, which is near the intersection of the 57 and 60 freeways, and have had several conversations with Roski.


The league routinely had those meetings with other people interested in developing other football stadiums around Southern California, which has been without an NFL team since the Raiders and Rams left after the 1994 season.


“I think this is important for Los Angeles, for the fabric of the city,” said Roski, who along with Philip Anschutz built Staples Center. “The city has done real well without the NFL, and the NFL has done real well without the city. But I think it’s important to have a professional football team in Los Angeles.”


Roski’s proposal is different from most because he controls the land necessary to build the stadium, training facilities and related development; and he already has a certified environmental impact report for the site.


The proposal suffered a setback Wednesday when state lawmakers blocked an effort by the City of Industry to divert $820 million in property tax revenue to use it for development subsidies.


Roski said that if an NFL team is willing to relocate, construction on the stadium can begin this fall and be finished in time for the 2011 season. He added the team could begin playing in Los Angeles by the 2009 season, and conceivably use the Coliseum or Rose Bowl as a temporary home in the interim.


Read the full L.A. Times story

. (registration required)

No posts to display