Thursday, November 10, 2005

NFL, Coliseum in preliminary stages for return to L.A.

Associated Press

 

LOS ANGELES -- The NFL and city officials have reached a preliminary agreement on terms to bring a team back to the Los Angeles Coliseum, commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Thursday.

But Tagliabue, in a 15-minute session with reporters on the steps of City Hall, didn't identify a potential tenant or speculate when Los Angeles might get the team.

He also spoke positively about a team playing at a facility proposed for the Angel Stadium parking lot in Anaheim and didn't rule out the Rose Bowl in Pasadena as a possible home field, either.

As Tagliabue entered a limousine, he was asked if he could assess the significance of what he had just announced. He replied, "I'd rather not try."

The commissioner did say: "It's the first time we've had agreement on term sheets. We're one step closer, two or three steps closer. Whether it's 2009, 2010, or 2000-whatever, our goal is to have definitive agreements on all subject matters well before our league meetings in March."

The Los Angeles area, the second-largest television market in the country, has been without an NFL team since the Raiders moved from the Coliseum back to Oakland and the Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis before the 1995 season.

After announcing plans in the spring of 1999 to put an expansion team in the Coliseum, the NFL was unable to reach an agreement with the Los Angeles backers and instead awarded the 32nd franchise to Houston that October.

Houston businessman Bob McNair and his backers offered to pay $700 million for the new franchise and spend another $310 million on a stadium, making it the NFL's first billion-dollar deal. The Texans began play in 2002.

Tagliabue said significant progress has been made in the past year regarding the Coliseum. His statement came following a meeting with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and before a session with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.

"I think the critical thing now is we're at the point where it's recognized, certainly by us, that the time is right," Tagliabue said. "We have to get agreements finalized. We'll be pursuing agreements in Anaheim. We're going to work with both communities for an agreement."

He said there have been no in-depth discussions on whether the region would get an expansion or existing team.

Tagliabue said last month that future expansion was unlikely anywhere but Los Angeles.

He also said it was important to make sure Southern California, the nation's top-ranked college team, was comfortable with any agreement, since the Trojans have made the Coliseum their home since 1923.

Tagliabue planned on meeting with USC coach Pete Carroll later Thursday. The commissioner met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzennegger late Wednesday.

Tentative plans call for the NFL to finance construction of a $500 million stadium inside the Coliseum, home to the Rams from 1946-79 and the Raiders from 1982-94.

City Councilman Bernard Parks said after listening to Tagliabue that he believes the Coliseum will eventually get an existing team rather than an expansion team.

"The NFL is going to have a say on who's going to come here. The Coliseum has no role in selecting a team," Parks said.

Asked when it might happen, Parks replied: "I don't know. Nobody's signed anything. They've got to say they're coming."

That being said, Parks expressed optimism.

"In my judgment, I don't believe these business people waste their time and money," he said. "They've spent a lot of time and money."

While Tagliabue didn't rule out the Rose Bowl, the Pasadena City Council voted 5-2 with one abstention last June to pursue a plan for the stadium that doesn't involve the NFL. Carson dropped out of contention in May when city officials decided to build a mall on its proposed site.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2219883

Or the Vikings. If that happens, then the Rams would probably move to the North?

Or maybe the ultimate destination for the Saints?

saints will have new ownership before moving to la. my gues is the vikings since the love boat most likely killed any hopes for a new stadium. the rams will stay pit in st .louis

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051111/ap_on_...XAwBHNlYwM3NTU-

 

JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer

2 hours, 10 minutes ago

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES - The NFL and city officials have reached a preliminary agreement on terms to bring a team back to the Los Angeles Coliseum. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue made the announcement Thursday on the steps of City Hall. But he didn't identify a potential tenant or speculate when Los Angeles might get the team.

 

He also spoke positively about a team playing at a facility proposed for the Angel Stadium parking lot in Anaheim and didn't rule out the Rose Bowl in Pasadena as a possible home field, either.

 

As Tagliabue entered a limousine, he was asked if he could assess the significance of what he had just announced. He replied, "I'd rather not try."

 

The commissioner did say: "It's the first time we've had agreement on term sheets. We're one step closer, two or three steps closer. Whether it's 2009, 2010, or 2000-whatever, our goal is to have definitive agreements on all subject matters well before our league meetings in March."

 

The Los Angeles area, the second-largest television market in the country, has been without an NFL team since the Raiders moved from the Coliseum back to Oakland and the Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis before the 1995 season.

 

After announcing plans in the spring of 1999 to put an expansion team in the Coliseum, the NFL was unable to reach an agreement with the Los Angeles backers and instead awarded the 32nd franchise to Houston that October.

 

Houston businessman Bob McNair and his backers offered to pay $700 million for the new franchise and spend another $310 million on a stadium, making it the NFL's first billion-dollar deal. The Texans began play in 2002.

 

Tagliabue said significant progress has been made in the past year regarding the Coliseum. His statement came following a meeting with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and before a session with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.

 

"I think the critical thing now is we're at the point where it's recognized, certainly by us, that the time is right," Tagliabue said. "We have to get agreements finalized. We'll be pursuing agreements in Anaheim. We're going to work with both communities for an agreement."

 

He said there have been no in-depth discussions on whether the region would get an expansion or existing team.

 

Tagliabue said last month that future expansion was unlikely anywhere but Los Angeles.

 

He also said it was important to make sure Southern California, the nation's top-ranked college team, was comfortable with any agreement, since the Trojans have made the Coliseum their home since 1923.

 

Tagliabue planned on meeting with USC coach Pete Carroll later Thursday. The commissioner met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzennegger late Wednesday.

 

Tentative plans call for the NFL to finance construction of a $500 million stadium inside the Coliseum, home to the Rams from 1946-79 and the Raiders from 1982-94.

 

City Councilman Bernard Parks said after listening to Tagliabue that he believes the Coliseum will eventually get an existing team rather than an expansion team.

 

"The NFL is going to have a say on who's going to come here. The Coliseum has no role in selecting a team," Parks said.

 

Asked when it might happen, Parks replied: "I don't know. Nobody's signed anything. They've got to say they're coming."

 

That being said, Parks expressed optimism.

 

"In my judgment, I don't believe these business people waste their time and money," he said. "They've spent a lot of time and money."

 

While Tagliabue didn't rule out the Rose Bowl, the Pasadena City Council voted 5-2 with one abstention last June to pursue a plan for the stadium that doesn't involve the NFL. Carson dropped out of contention in May when city officials decided to build a mall on its proposed site.

Or the Vikings. If that happens, then the Rams would probably move to the North?

 

They've been rumored in the past to move but I just can't see it happening. They have too great of rivalries with the NFC North teams. If it did happen though, I would think the Rams would move to the North.

I don't want to see the NFL expand, for starters. There aren't even 32 good starting QB's in the league. How many more teams are there going to be with starting QB's with the skills of Brooks Bollinger, Kyle Boller, or JP Losman?

 

LA doesn't deserve an NFL team. They can't seem to keep one there for very long.

I don't want to see the NFL expand, for starters.  There aren't even 32 good starting QB's in the league.  How many more teams are there going to be with starting QB's with the skills of Brooks Bollinger, Kyle Boller, or JP Losman?

 

LA doesn't deserve an NFL team.  They can't seem to keep one there for very long.

What was the longest a team has been there? Correct me if i am wrong, but isn't this LA's third oppourtunity at having an NFL team?

I don't know if I've ever heard more of a non-announcement announcement in my life. I think Tagliabue announced that both sides agreed on everything to which they had already agreed. Hell, if he's not ruling out the Rose Bowl...he's not really agreeing to anything.

 

And I think that the QB Position really has a lot more talent than you guys are admitting, it's just a question of whether or not teams can do a quality job of developing their guys. I mean, for each place like Baltimore, which is stuck with Boller, how many other places are there like San Diego, where a backup is sitting around waiting for a shot to play? How many more Kurt Warners or Jake DelHommes might be out there who will suddenly pop up and lead a team to the super bowl?

I don't want to see the NFL expand, for starters.  There aren't even 32 good starting QB's in the league.  How many more teams are there going to be with starting QB's with the skills of Brooks Bollinger, Kyle Boller, or JP Losman?

 

LA doesn't deserve an NFL team.  They can't seem to keep one there for very long.

 

Bollinger's a 3rd or 4th string QB starting due to injuries

Boller was a first round pick who is probably in his last year of starting

Losman is a second year player out of Tulane who has had his first real player time, and was pulled from his starting job due to ineffectiveness for Kelly Holcomb.

 

I don't believe they're talking expansion really anyways - I think it's more or less a team moving from their current location to LA.

The Rams are going back to LA IMO. Since the Cheifs are Missouri's team everywhere expect St. Louis. St. Louis is a good sports city, but is a baseball town.

I can't see the Rams going anywhere. Especially with 100% of their seats being filled this year.