An NFL Team in 2009?
INDUSTRY - Developer Ed Roski Jr.'s business partner says he has "no doubt" a National Football League team will play in Los Angeles in 2009, most likely at the Rose Bowl.
Majestic Realty Vice President John Semcken also said he believes there is a possibility two NFL teams could wind up playing in the $800 million stadium Roski wants to build in Industry.
"We are going to have a team here next September," Semcken said Tuesday afternoon.
"I personally believe, yes," two teams will come to L.A., he said. "Because the economics are so (good). All I want is one. All our analysis is based on one. If a second team came it would just be a tenant. We're only going to own one."
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Roski is a billionaire listed in the Forbes 500 list of the world's richest people. He is president of Industry-based Majestic Realty, part-owner of the NBA's Lakers and NHL's Kings, and co-owner of the Staples Center.
In April, Roski unveiled his plan to build a state-of-the-art football stadium and entertainment complex on a 600-acre plot of land that was previously slated for commercial and retail use.
The anticipated stadium pricetag of $800 million would be about $1 billion less than was spent on the new home of the New York Giants and Jets, Semcken said.
Roski wants to buy a controlling interest in an NFL team and move it to his new stadium, planned to be built near the intersection of the 57 and 60 freeways. Semcken said that Roski has a "handshake deal" with
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Rose Bowl officials to allow an NFL team to play in Pasadena for two seasons, until his new stadium is finished.
Semcken also said NFL executives asked him to make sure the stadium and its training facilities could accommodate two teams.
"Every owner I have talked to is interested in coming," Semcken said. "The idea of moving here is like Nirvana to them."
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said that the league has long identified the Los Angeles region as a two-team market.
The L.A. area has been home to two pro football teams before. The NFL's Rams and the American Football League's Chargers both played in Los Angeles in 1960. When the Rams moved to Anaheim in 1980, it opened the way for the Raiders to move to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from Oakland. They did so in 1982.
Both the Rams and Raiders played in Southern California through the 1994 season, when the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders returned to Oakland.
"It doesn't mean that we will have two teams there next season, but we have looked at an option that would provide flexibility so that should we have a team there someday. The site could also accommodate another team," McCarthy said.
Seven teams have expressed interest coming to Roski's stadium, but Semcken declined to name them. He said identifying teams could hurt ticket sales in their current stadiums.
In April, Roski listed the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers as teams that might move to L.A. and his new stadium.
If a team agrees to move and Roski acquires at least part ownership, Semcken said it would play at the Rose Bowl for two seasons while the Industry site is developed. The stadium is expected to be completed in time for the 2011 season.
Semcken said an NFL team playing in the Rose Bowl would not negatively impact UCLA, which is the Rose Bowl's main tenant.
"We've had just very preliminary talks so far," said Darryl Dunn, general manager of the Rose Bowl. "We are definitely interested in anything that could bring in revenue."
Any agreement the NFL reaches would need to be approved by the Rose Bowl officials, Pasadena and UCLA, Dunn said. UCLA officials did not return calls Wednesday.
"The Rose Bowl Operating Company does not have a handshake deal with Majestic Realty for an NFL team," said Charles Thompson, spokesman for the Rose Bowl Operating Company.
Bringing an NFL team to Pasadena - even temporarily - would require community and council support, said Pasadena city spokeswoman Ann Erdman.
In 2006, Pasadena voters rejected Measure A, which would have allowed the NFL to renovate the stadium for NFL purposes.
"As it stands now, the stadium is not NFL ready," Erdman said. "So, therefore, should there sometime in the future be a major renovation to make it NFL ready, there would be many, many processes to go through."
Norman Parker, president of the Linda Vista/Annandale Association, said that the community has had a fine relationship with Rose Bowl management.
"For a couple of years, we could manage with (an NFL team) quite well, and the Rose Bowl would get some well-needed revenue," Parker said. "We look forward to working with them."
Roski's Los Angeles Stadium would seat 75,000 fans, have 175 suites, could have up to 5 million square feet available for commercial use, and provide nearly 6,000 jobs.
Comments
Bring an NFL team back to L.A, PERIOD!!!
Posted by: Jok3r | October 19, 2008 12:12 PM
Or you can go to donkey/sucksss house and watch it on Fox. His parents always have beer on hand and are always hammered.
Posted by: donkeys have no brains | September 4, 2008 9:40 PM
afan
no beer at HS games? not true. just go in the parking lot of amat games and you will find big beer bellied amat fans slaming brewski's.
Posted by: amat fans slaming brewski's | September 2, 2008 8:44 PM
Take a Hike,
So that's your home address? Sweet.
Now as far as you being first in line for tix, I know I called your number on that didn't I?
Posted by: Bleeds Blue and Gold | September 2, 2008 8:24 AM
bleeds piss and sh@@
i have an address for you to visit
1122 take a hike avenue
Posted by: take a hike | August 31, 2008 6:24 PM
Roski is already part owner of the Lakers, Kings, and Staples Center so he's not just looking for something to do.
As for your "excellent" Chargers, you might get to see them without the drive... they're one of the teams mentioned as potential tenants due to their struggle with San Diego over a new stadium.
Posted by: Joe Amat | August 30, 2008 8:32 AM
Frankly I don't want an NFL team in the southland. We don't really need one! Traffic is bad enough in Walnut from Cal Poly, Mt SAC and sorrounding schools. Also, there's already an excellent team playing in So. Cal. The San Diego Chargers. Sure you have to drive south to see them, but if you were too lackadaisickal to drive to Anaheim to see the Rams play, and turned on your beloved Raiders, L.A. you don't deserve an NFL team. Ed Roski Jr. go away and go buy an NHL team or something
Posted by: hostile17 | August 29, 2008 10:31 AM
Start with you,
Why the hate? This isn't an Amat thread and you have to talk your crap. Thanks for pointing out to EVERYONE on this blog that you have no class whatsoever to even get into an intelligent dialogue on ANY subject matter. Oh wait, you have no intellignece! Sorry I keep giving you the benefit of the doubt. One of these days I'll remember. What a waste of air and space you are.
Sounds like you would be the first in line to buy tickets, that's fine with me since it also points out you have no brains either. If you are so hard up on getting your seats, here is Roskis address. Go down there and be sure to have your checkbook in hand (or welfare check in your case).
Majestic Realty
13191 Crossroads Parkway North • Sixth Floor • City of Industry, CA 91746-3497 • Phone: 562.692.9581 • Fax: 562.695.2329
Posted by: Bleeds Blue and Gold | August 29, 2008 8:36 AM
Blue and Gold,
Great article at FOX sports! Really makes the point. Pro football bilks its fans to the inth degree. I gave up on pro ball about 5 years ago. I'm now a high school and college fan, where the kids play for love of the game and the name of their school, not the billion dollars needed to build a new thronedium to pay amage to a Forbes 500 owner who views his team as a high dollar hobby! So I say screw the Raiders, Rams, Saints, Chargers, et al. I stop on their game for 14 seconds on Sunday when I'm channel surfing for a good home shopping channel!
Posted by: Just Wondering | August 29, 2008 7:56 AM
I would suggest taking your first born to the top of the mountain and sacrifice him or her because that's what it's going to take to get in the door.
HOW ABOUT WE START WITH YOU BLEEDS PISS AND SH**?
Posted by: START WITH YOU | August 28, 2008 11:11 PM
Its a done deal !!! Rams are back !!! trust me...
Posted by: rgd2626 | August 28, 2008 7:36 PM
Why Not Get The Raiders?
Are you kidding me!
Who wants to go a NFL game and sit amongst a bunch of scum bag low life gangbangers parolees and trailer trash.
And then watch the same scum perform on the field.
Posted by: Forget-a-bout- It | August 28, 2008 4:15 PM
Once again for those interested, a good read.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8305630?MSNHPHMA
Posted by: Bleeds Blue and Gold | August 28, 2008 2:54 PM
WHO CARES
Bunch of over paid cry babies.
Go watch a High School game for 7-8 bucks. not 50-250 for the cheap seats. Buy a Hotdog and a Coke for 3-4.50 not 15 bucks. Sorry no beer sold at high school games then again you just saved yourself a possable DUI at about 10-15,000 Watch athelets play for the love of the game. Not because they got a huge signing bonus. Set in the stands with your neighbors and friends. Oh yeah and parking is free.
You know there are some places in this country where every friday night is a sell out and were talking 10,000 people at a high school.
The season is just around the corner.. Invite a friend to a game. That should help increase the revenue at our High Schools
See you in the stands
Posted by: A Fan | August 28, 2008 2:50 PM
How can the Raiders sell out this new stadium if they cannot even sell out their present stadium? By the way the Raiders rarely sold out the coliseum when they were here in L.A.(lots of blackout telecasts, i remember) the only local stadium the Raiders can sell out is Mt.Sac. They are a horrible team and until granny Al Davis Dies the Raiders will always be a loser. Al Davis sued the NFL and the NFL will always remember that and keep Al and the Raiders down until he dies. They loved embarrassing him when Tampa trashed his Raider in the Superbowl. The Raiders have never been the same since. Raiders fans suck.
Posted by: I HATE THE RAIDERS | August 28, 2008 2:35 PM
Why not the Raiders? it would be guaranteed that the games will sell out every home game. Yeah the Raiders left but look at the other teams that want to come here they problems of there own in the city there in now what makes you think for one second that when the Raiders come to town you won't have the same problem that you have in San Diego. Its ALL about money and bringing the Raiders back would be a great option.
Posted by: RaiderFan | August 28, 2008 2:10 PM
Never Happen,
Never underestimate the true football fanatic. A few months ago when Fred first posted about a stadium going up in Industry, you would have thought a team was in place already with the response it received.
It will be interesting to see more responses on this article as it is read. I think not everyone knows what really goes on with ticket sales in this day and age since the idea was not conceived when the Rams and Raiders were still in town.
reality czech,
Have you ever seen traffic on that interchange on a weekend? It's just as bad, if not worse. The 60, from the 57 to the 605, is locked in BOTH directions from noon until 9 at night.
Posted by: Bleeds Blue and Gold | August 28, 2008 2:06 PM
BB&G,
Only fools pay that money to these monopolized traps these owners have so called cleverly come up with. There are not too many high priced dumb people willing to part with money especially in this economy. Simple and easy if no one falls for it the owners still have to pay for it. When and If this stadium opens in Industry people will buy on a per game basis. Trust me we the people are the customer, you think they want to see empty seats and see this thing fail in L.A. again?...
Posted by: Never happen | August 28, 2008 12:44 PM
OK, so you people are still hoping to get an NFL team, well good luck. Once that team shows up at your door step and you want to be the first in line to get tickets, I would suggest taking your first born to the top of the mountain and sacrifice him or her because that's what it's going to take to get in the door.
Read this, it just might change your mind. If it doesn't, have fun at the games.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8305630?MSNHPHMA
Posted by: Bleeds Blue and Gold | August 28, 2008 10:40 AM
Who cares traffic already sucks all over L.A., getting a NFL Team back here in L.A. will be awesome. Relocate a team or a expansion team as long it is not the Raiders and their gangbanger fans pissing and smoking pot and drinking all over the place, they are the most disgusting fans in pro sports. Anybody but the Raiders, they left L.A. shame on them, they return to L.A. shame on us, all of us. Cholos will be out in full force. I am sure the city of industry and neighboring Walnut want no part of that mess.
Posted by: Bring us a real team | August 28, 2008 10:18 AM
games are on Sundays
Posted by: reality czech | August 28, 2008 9:23 AM
The 57-60 interchange is already one of the largest Cluster F's in the entire southland. I couldn't even imagine what that would be like if they built that stadium!
I hope Roski's plan includes a renovation of the surrounding freeways and an extension of the Metrolink or it is absolutely going to RUIN the 60 fwy corridor!
Posted by: CLUSTER F | August 28, 2008 8:54 AM