Los Angeles City Council approves NFL Stadium
 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...headline_stack

PBJ ??


LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles took a major step Friday toward building a downtown stadium to lure an NFL team back to the nation's second most populous city, despite questions about how a 72,000-seat venue in the city's urban core would impact notorious freeway traffic, nearby housing prices and air quality.


The 12-0 vote by City Council came after starkly contrasting predictions about what the $1.5 billion project would mean for an economically troubled city that has fretted over the loss of professional football since the Raiders and Rams fled Southern California in 1994.

Supporters said the deal with developer Anschutz Entertainment Group would create thousands of jobs, a hub of civic pride and new tax dollars for cash-starved City Hall, while critics warned that affordable housing would vanish in the neighborhood while traffic would come to a virtual standstill on game days.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in a statement after the vote that it demonstrates "what we can accomplish when the city family joins together with private partners in a transformational development."

"This is truly a game changer for Los Angeles," Villaraigosa said.

The vote was overshadowed by the recent announcement that AEG was seeking a new owner, though company officials have assured City Hall the stadium plan will remain the same, even if the company changes hands.

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The biggest question about the stadium is the most obvious: There's no one to play in it. But the Democratic mayor and other supporters hope the agreement will eventually attract a team - or two - to one of the nation's most lucrative media markets.

AEG, also the owner of Los Angeles' Staples Center arena and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, has deep ties to City Hall. Any deal to buy the company, a subsidiary of Denver-based Anschutz Co., would mean a major shift in sports and entertainment in the region and around the world.

AEG's holdings include pro soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, part-ownership of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, and major entertainment and real estate holdings in downtown Los Angeles. Outside the city, AEG owns Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo and all or part of several arenas around the U.S. and in Sweden, China and Australia.

The project, which calls for the renovation of an adjacent convention center, is facing a lawsuit filed by anti-poverty and environmental activists that some predict could delay or derail plans for the stadium, known as Farmers Field. The activist group, Play Fair at Farmers Field Coalition, is challenging a state law intended to help swiftly resolve legal challenges to the stadium, and it also wants AEG to pay $60 million toward affordable housing in the long-struggling downtown neighborhood.

There are some risky assumptions. In a city where everyone drives, planners predict many fans will leave their vehicles at home and travel to the stadium by bus or rail.

A rival group, Majestic Realty, has proposed building a stadium in the City of Industry, outside Los Angeles.

AEG is hoping to have an NFL team on the field by the 2017 season. The company has pledged about $35 million to reduce traffic problems.

Seriously? That's like weighing whether you should use all of your normal amount of mayo or just three quarters of it on your bacon, sausage and glazed donut sandwich.

This is the beginning of the end, Setsuna

LMAO

Traffic wouldn't be that much worse than normal unless the Lakers area playing and the Dodgers are in the world series (and we know that's not happening) haha did it first!

Reaaaalllllly? /clark


Wish I could find the Ace Ventura "reeeaallly" pic or gif

The Los Angeles Jaguars


Maybe they will change their name to the LA Stars or someother gay name, God I hope so

I can't wait to watch the Los Angeles Chiefs begin play in 2016!

Move the Chargers up here, then I have a shorter ride to see the Chiefs when they come out.

Downtown traffic wouldn't be any different than when there's a Lakers game. the article is reaching.

My order:

1. jaguars
2. Chargers
3. Bills
4 Rams

Just looking at teams with low fan base and bad stadium set ups.


The move would come with a name change unless the Chargers move-sentimental AFL reasons.


But as for adding a new team-there is not enough talent to add a team

then we are talking division re-alignment again

Jaguars would be the logical choice, but the team that makes the most sense would be the Raiders. If they would sell the team, you are looking at a Dallas Cowboys type money making machine if they would move back to LA. Chargers are #3 and most likely IMO to move though.

Also for us in Central and Southwest Missouri, worst case is if somehow an AFC team ends up in St. Louis. The Chiefs games on CBS would be several undercutted then.

forgot about the Raiders and the dead pajama man

good call

They'll break the mold of suitable concrete pluralities that every team in the NFL has in common. The Chiefs. Giants. Packers. Jets. Gay sex-having cock gobbling cum-on-mustaches Broncos.

They'll probably turn them into some idiotic WNBA team.

Los Angeles Fame

Los Angeles Lemon Party

Los Angeles Pizzazz

All I ask is that, if they come up with a new name, it ends in 's'. Bonus points if it refers to a weapon, a ruler of men, a warrior caste, or a fanged animal.