LA Approves New Stadium Deal

((HT: KABC-TV))

Surprising no one, really, the Los Angeles City Council approved the US$1.2-billion deal to build the downtown football stadium as part of the LA Live Project.

It came a little less than a week after AEG decided that they were up for sale- which caused the normal amount of concern around the planet about all the arenas and stadia that they run at present.

But AEG maintains that nothing will change. And in LA, specifically, they say that since they have already invested $50-million there is no turning back.

Here's Carlos Granda et al.


There has been no pro football in Los Angeles since 1994, but the real ideas are:

1) Who would end up moving from "wherever" to LA to play there these days...? And,

2) The Shield gets ratings for the league double-headers in the Number Two market in the country every week. it would be interesting to see the ratings comparisons from one situation to the other (having a team versus not) to see how the league sells their ad space using the idea as a leverage point...

And would it be worth it financially to leave the city alone...???

And In Other Stadium News, It's LA's Turn...

((HT: NBCLosAngeles.com))

First things first... Anschutz Entertainment Group CEO Tim Leiweke apologized for all of the hullabaloo involving the announcement selling AEG to anyone who wants to pick up all of their assets.

Then, the committee before the LA City Council decided to okay the agreements involving the idea that could be Farmers Field if they figure out if it can be built. Leiweke also says that AEG would be committed to a Farmers Field deal, even if AEG is sold. Leiweke also told the committee that he and his management team have committed long-term to working at AEG, according to the Los Angeles Times and KCBS-TV...

Now, the full City Council gets to vote on the idea by the end of the week...

Toni Guinyard gets to stand outside a courthouse-looking building to talk about it...

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

Group Springs up to Protest L.A stadium plan

((ht: kabc.com))

You knew this was inevitable. And to be perfectly honest, they aren't wrong for raising the question.

An activist group called "Play Fair at Farmer's Field" coalition has announced their intention to file a lawsuit against the state of California. Their beef: The state rubber stamped the plan and process which limits the time frame anybody can file suit challenging the project.

Oh...the group hasn't actually FILED the suit yet.

Senate Bill 292 says that any group who wants to file suit, has to go straight to the 2nd District Court of Appeals, not the city of Los Angeles.

Hmmmm....

ABC 7 in Los Angeles tries to explain RIGHT HERE

While it is certainly with the law for the state to do what they did, it just kind of looks bad. The impression is the rules are different for a gazillionaire such as Philip Anschutz if he's willing to spend half a gazillion to build a stadium and try to get an NFL team to play there.

Notice the keyword "Try"...

And while AEG is financing the majority of the project, it still comes at a price to taxpayers. One that some aren't totally enamored with.

But that is how it works with big boy sports. If you live in a city with an "Older" stadium or a city trying to "Draw" a team, you will be on the hook for a chunk of it. And remember these deals are being made by people who have enough money to pay for it themselves. But remember the old addage "Why spend my money if I can spend yours?" Well, that is how it works with Pro Sports and with Politicians these days.

Just something to remember this by.

Here's the TV story from KABC-TV:

AEG shows off what proposed stadium would look like

((ht: latimes.com))

It sure does look purty, doesn't it?

AEG, one of two groups proposing to build a stadium to try and lure NFL Football back to Los Angeles finally revealed what their $1 billion vision would look like.

Farmers Field (AEG owns Farmers Insurance), would cozy up with a new and improved LA Convention center and allegedly give the city a centerpiece to lure big conventions and other sporting events to town.

Though if you watch the video, we aren't sure exactly how the NHL Winter Classic would fit into this.

Just sayin.

Anyway, take a look at the video, it sure is interesting...and well animated. And before you get excited, keep in mind...LA still doesn't have a team (Vikings issues non-withstanding). And AEG honcho Philip Anschutz has said he wants a part of any team that would play in "His" stadium.

So...if you live in LA..then look in awe...if you live anywhere else, watch...and raise an eyebrow.

LA Approves Stadium Plan, Buffalo Freaking Out...???

((HT: WGRZ-TV Buffalo))

The HQ has figured for a long time that LA would get an NFL team, but not an expansion one...

There are plenty of ideas in play and while we like San Diego getting back to where they once belonged... Minnesota, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Oakland, and Buffalo are always being mentioned as moving fodder...

Ben Hayes caught up with ESPNLosAngeles' Arash Markazi and grilled him on the particulars about Buffalo and the pick-six...


Fox 5 and Walter Makaula in San Diego also pursued the idea as well...

LA Is Farmers... Bum Ba Dum Ba Dum Bum Bum

((HT: KABC-TV))

The HQ figured this would happen sooner or later...

AEG and the City of Los Angeles have agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding for what would eventually become Farmers Field next to Staples Center in the City Center district...

AEG is issuing bonds for less than the initial amount requested and will be paying for the $1.2-billion facility their own selves...

Sid Garcia has the details on the MOU


The one thing the HQ has failed to understand during this whole time...

If LA gets double-headers every weekend without fail, the national ratings for the pro football package are normally higher than they would be otherwise.

Wouldn't the ratings nosedive if a team like Jacksonville, Minneapolis, or Buffalo make their way west...???

Jus' axin'...