L.A. Approves Improvements to Lure NFL Team

TallySaint · 05-23-2006, 02:21 PM

L.A. approves improvements to lure NFL team

NFL.com wire reports

LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2006) -- The Los Angeles City Council voted to spend $25 million on improvements around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in hopes of luring an NFL team back to the city.

Under the plan, the city Community Redevelopment Agency would issue $25 million in bonds for street widening, site clearing and other work near the Coliseum, which would be paid for by expected tax revenue from the stadium.

In coming years, the city estimates it could spend up to $121 million more for additional transit and other improvements, which would also be funded by stadium taxes.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has said public funds will not be used for a proposed $800 million renovation at the Coliseum. The city-funded improvements approved by the Council amount to incentives to make the city's NFL pitch more attractive.

"The dollars will be limited to improvements around the stadium, not the actual construction," said Villaraigosa spokesman Joe Ramallo.

City officials hope NFL owners, who meet in Denver next week, will bring a team to the Coliseum by the 2009 season.

Under the city plan, the Coliseum would be extensively renovated with money from the NFL.

The Coliseum is used by the University of Southern California football team. It hasn't hosted a professional team since the Raiders left after the 1994 season.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9449864

8)

dwiley21 · 05-23-2006, 02:47 PM

All this money being spent for a city which ALREADY had 2 teams and couldn't keep em. They don't deserve a team in LA, but if they do get a team or even 2 I hope it comes via EXPANSION!!!

JimBone · 05-23-2006, 02:52 PM

What kills me is that the league is dead set on giving LA at least one team, and history has shown that LA just does not support football...they have USC, they have the Lakers, they have the Dodgers...that is the cities lifeblood...they dont care about the NFL...do you really think the Rams would have left for St. Louis if they didnt think they could make more money? St. Louis is not even close to the same kind of market that LA is but they support the NFL. This whole thing is just crazy.

TallySaint · 05-23-2006, 02:57 PM

I hope it comes via EXPANSION!!!

I haven't given it much thought. But on the surface, it seems it would have to be a helluva expansion or really booger up the conferences/divisions as we know it, or both.

I suspect it will come from movement of existing franchises.

I dunno.

8)

Halo · 05-23-2006, 04:19 PM

BREAKING NEWS: Chris Mortensen from ESPN reports the Saints to move to LA by 2012, but the NFL predicts the west coast will fall into the Pacific by 2020. ESPN (and Chris Mortensen) have discovered these sketches from NFL properties of a future logo for the Saints.

Apparently the Saints, and what's left of California, will move to Salt Lake City, Utah. The league is proposing a new logo and name for the Saints changing it to either the Utah or Salt Lake City Latter-Day Saints.

BJSim · 05-23-2006, 04:21 PM

LOL ... Now that's funny.

MatthewT · 05-23-2006, 07:32 PM

I do not believe that the Saints would ever go to Hollywood. If it does happen, then no big deal. As much as I love the Saints, I would have no reason to watch them if the move to L.A. It would actually be nice to have fall Sunday's not sitting in front of a freaking TV. TV is a major waste of time...

VikingSaint · 05-24-2006, 03:56 AM

IF the Saints EVER move ... I'm DONE as an NFL fan ...

05-23-2006, 02:21 PM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	L.A. Approves Improvements to Lure NFL Team L.A. approves improvements to lure NFL team NFL.com wire reports LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2006) -- The Los Angeles City Council voted to spend $25 million on improvements around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in hopes of luring an NFL team back to the city. Under the plan, the city Community Redevelopment Agency would issue $25 million in bonds for street widening, site clearing and other work near the Coliseum, which would be paid for by expected tax revenue from the stadium. In coming years, the city estimates it could spend up to $121 million more for additional transit and other improvements, which would also be funded by stadium taxes. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has said public funds will not be used for a proposed $800 million renovation at the Coliseum. The city-funded improvements approved by the Council amount to incentives to make the city's NFL pitch more attractive. "The dollars will be limited to improvements around the stadium, not the actual construction," said Villaraigosa spokesman Joe Ramallo. City officials hope NFL owners, who meet in Denver next week, will bring a team to the Coliseum by the 2009 season. Under the city plan, the Coliseum would be extensively renovated with money from the NFL. The Coliseum is used by the University of Southern California football team. It hasn't hosted a professional team since the Raiders left after the 1994 season. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9449864 8)
	My Guardian Angel wears a hard hat.

05-23-2006, 02:47 PM	#2
dwiley21 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 216	All this money being spent for a city which ALREADY had 2 teams and couldn't keep em. They don't deserve a team in LA, but if they do get a team or even 2 I hope it comes via EXPANSION!!!
dwiley21 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 216

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05-23-2006, 02:52 PM	#3
JimBone 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Thibodaux, La Posts: 614	What kills me is that the league is dead set on giving LA at least one team, and history has shown that LA just does not support football...they have USC, they have the Lakers, they have the Dodgers...that is the cities lifeblood...they dont care about the NFL...do you really think the Rams would have left for St. Louis if they didnt think they could make more money? St. Louis is not even close to the same kind of market that LA is but they support the NFL. This whole thing is just crazy.

05-23-2006, 02:57 PM	#4
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	I hope it comes via EXPANSION!!! I haven't given it much thought. But on the surface, it seems it would have to be a helluva expansion or really booger up the conferences/divisions as we know it, or both. I suspect it will come from movement of existing franchises. I dunno. 8)

05-23-2006, 04:21 PM	#6
BJSim 500+ posts Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 577	LOL ... Now that's funny.

05-23-2006, 07:32 PM	#7
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,729	I do not believe that the Saints would ever go to Hollywood. If it does happen, then no big deal. As much as I love the Saints, I would have no reason to watch them if the move to L.A. It would actually be nice to have fall Sunday's not sitting in front of a freaking TV. TV is a major waste of time...

05-24-2006, 03:56 AM	#8
VikingSaint Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houma Posts: 76	IF the Saints EVER move ... I'm DONE as an NFL fan ...