LABJ Forum: NFL’s Return The Saga Continues

Last week plans were revealed for a new 64,000 square foot stadium near the Staples Center downtown a sign that professional football might soon return to Los Angeles. So the Business Journal asks: What is your reaction to the latest plans for bringing pro football back to Los Angeles?

David Krawitz

Managing Director

Apco Worldwide

I think it’s phenomenal. Los Angeles should have an NFL franchise. It doesn’t make sense that we don’t. L.A. is the second largest city in the U.S. and, obviously, the world’s center for entertainment and media. It’s long overdue.

Michael Gresch

Co-Owner

Terminal Media

It would be great for Los Angeles as a business community. Of course, if they want to fund it publicly, that would be difficult for the city to get behind right now we have other things to worry about. But if the majority of it is funded privately, it would be great for the city. If we do end up getting a team to move here, hopefully we can change the name so it’s more our own team. Also, I think the community would support a team football left us, we didn’t leave it.

Gregory Akselrud

Associate, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

I think it’s great. An NFL team will bring a lot of commerce and excitement to L.A. sports. It’s about time. I was really disappointed when the Raiders left. I was and am a Raiders fan, but now I have to battle with my Northern California counterparts. This will fill the void. Really, there’s no reason why the NFL shouldn’t have a team here. We have the market, the fan base and the economics to do it. Also, it’s a great use of the downtown space. Overall, I think it’s an exciting opportunity.

Bart Gurewitz

Managing Director

Wedbush Morgan Securities

It’s a great idea and it will be very positive for downtown Los Angeles and the overall area. I’m not a big football fan but I think it will be very positive for the economy, and the general feelings about downtown and Los Angeles. This is one of the greatest places in the world to live, this will only add to that.

Chris Breslin

Actor

I think they should do it. In a city like L.A., to not have a football team puts the city at a disadvantage. Every other major city seems to have a football team and we don’t? Los Angeles is the No. 2 city in America, I think a lot of people want a football team.

Mel Poteshman

Chief Executive

Poteshman Executive Solutions

We should most definitely have a stadium downtown. It would attract a lot of commerce and more hotels, which we desperately need downtown. Other cities have been successful in using sporting teams to revitalize the inner city, and we should really take a lesson from that. We need a major attraction, Staples has been a major plus for downtown and a new stadium would be the final straw.