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:

Report: LA Football stadium losing steam

((ht: yahoo.com))

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: