Industry: December 2010 Archives

I will get to week in review later, but for now I wanted to bring to your attention a story in the Orange County Register where Industry Stadium spokesman John Semcken took the battle between their plan and AEG's downtown plan to another level.

In particular, Semcken criticized AEG chief operating executive Tim Leiweke's credibility.

"Tim's a bad guy," Semcken said of the man he once worked side-by-side with to create Staples Center. "He can't build the building."

In the early stages of this battle, it appeared the two sides would jockey for an NFL team and may the best man win. Now, it would appear that Ed Roski's team is fightin' mad about AEG's downtown plan. It also points to the clear concern of Roski's team that a downtown stadium is, on the surface, more appealing to most people - and probably the NFL.

Semcken, and others, have legitimate concerns about AEG's plan that includes a skeptical look at AEG's alleged price tag of building a stadium and whether or not downtown can accommodate such a large scale production. But will his personal criticisms of Leiweke overshadow those concerns, and, possibly, serve to make them look petty?

In related news, did you see the collapse of the Metrodome over the weekend? If you haven't, watch the video. Amazing stuff.

The Vikings, along with the San Diego Chargers, are considered to be the top two teams most likely to move to Los Angeles. Both want new stadiums, and if they don't get them, could be prime candidates to move to swanky new digs in L.A.

But this may change things. With the roof collapse, this could ensure the Vikings their new stadium, and thus take them out of the running for the L.A. plan.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune