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| Proposed stadium complex |
Well...it was a nice thought, albeit somewhat pie-in-the-sky.
According to a report produced by Yahoo Sports reporter Jason Cole, the chances of an NFL stadium being built in downtown Los Angeles are shrinking by the day.
Cole reports that the sticking point in negotiations are primarily AEG's Phil Anschutz's requirement that he be allowed to purchase a minority stake in any team that would relocate to LA. Oh, that stake would come at a pre-set discount too. Anschutz also wants a rental agreement on the stadium.
The NFL...well, they aren't so enamored with that idea, but Anschutz is sticking to that plan.
The full report from Yahoo.com RIGHT HERE
While we see Anschutz's point in asking for something in return for fronting $1 billion for the stadium, we still think the whole idea is a bad one. Sure, we understand the NFL desperately wants to return to LA, but we just don't see that happening.
For those of you who say "Plenty of teams will relocate", we say Bull*%#!. Every team that is thinking about it will use Los Angeles as a negotiating tactic to get what they want. It already will be getting the Vikings a new stadium. The Jaguars, while they "Could" leave, we don't believe the new ownership will do that any time in the near future. Sure, we know they have attendance issues, but knowing the Jacksonville market as we do, its a statement on the economy and the incredibly bizarre and poor personnel decisions by management.
Oh...we might add this story from today's LA Times:
There are rumblings in LA LA land that the Magic Johnson consortium that just bought the Dodgers have contemplated putting a football stadium next to Dodger stadium. And while that might be a more plausible idea than the AEG plan, we wonder if they have the capital after dishing out $2 billion for the baseball team.
Read the LA Times story RIGHT HERE
We really, REALLY, think the NFL is trying to force a square peg in a round hole here. Sure, a team in LA will give them potentially a ton more eyeballs and better access to the nations 2nd largest city. But really, is hurting them by not being there?
Its not like the NFL isn't the most popular Sports league in all the land. And it isn't like they are hurting for revenue or are being held back in their TV deal by not being in the City of Angels.
No, we say forcing a team to move to LA would alienate a good part of their audience. And we don't think they are quite ready to jump into the expansion game....yet.
This is only fitting:
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