NFL Merry-Go-Round: Relocation Roundelay

[FiddySicks]

Sun Devil Stadium is going through a similar renovation where they're removing thousands of seats. I think it's closer to 7,000 seats they're yanking, but it's definitely going to change the look and feel of that place, which is cavernous.

[bosrs1]

So the post-cookie-cutter stadium trend for a while was to be more/less rectangular and have open corners - Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc.

Are we officially past that point and now the full upper+lower bowl is the "thing"? What's old is new again or something like that?

Not really. Levis Stadium was the most recent stadium and it took the "open corner" thing to the extreme essentially only having an upper deck around half the stadium with that stupid luxury suite tower. And that's the same design modified we're seeing on the Carson stadium plan. There doesn't seem to be a "standard" model right now.

In North America, there is a new "standard", it is keep the upper bowl as small as possible since it is more difficult to sell season tickets to those higher positioned upper bowl seats.

Look at Sunlife Stadium's renovation in taking the NFL's largest upper bowl and cutting it down by about 10K.

What it should look like this fall.

Those new World Cup stadiums in CapeTown and Durban in 2010 and the Sao Paolo venue had temporary stands in the upper bowl and/or endzones.

That's why "Mt. Davis" was tarped NY the Raiders, why JAX tarps EverBank Field but for the Florida/Georgia game, and why the Saints will look for a replacement when Tom Benson dies.

True that smaller upper decks are a trend, but that's not a standard style like you had in the 90's. There were several almost cookie cutter NFL stadia built in the 90's but the last few designs and buildings have all be fairly unique.

[2001mark]

Look at Sunlife Stadium's renovation in taking the NFL's largest upper bowl and cutting it down by about 10K.

1st reaction: looks like a tennis grand slam centre court stadium.

At least they're getting the most out of what they had, Joe Robbie was always an underrated place imo. It looked like a giant swimming pool, fitting for south Florida.

Honestly, Rogers Centre (re. SkyDome) needs that type of open aired demolition. It's a fun place with a sports bar type vibe, though they ought to blast out some sidings to let air & light into the place.

There's zero word on how long the place will be around. Maybe one day they'll replace the roof with a lighter one like Vancouver & be able to take away some load bearing concrete for aesthetics.

[B-Rich]

That's why "Mt. Davis" was tarped NY the Raiders, why JAX tarps EverBank Field but for the Florida/Georgia game, and why the Saints will look for a replacement when Tom Benson dies.

Not sure where that last bit is coming from.

1. Unlike the other two teams listed, the Saints have a season ticket waiting list of over 70,000, and have no trouble selling out the terrace level (upper deck). In fact, with New Orleans' generally lower income, it is almost a kind of a blessing-- allowing more of the rabid "little guy" or "common folk" fans the opportunity to have season tickets at a manageable price.

2. The Saints franchise has a very secure lease with the Superdome that runs through the year 2025. No one expects Tom Benson (who is currently 87) to be around for that long, but as is commonly known, he has a transfer plan (via an irrevocable trust) to move both the Saints and Pelicans on to his current wife (who is a full 20 yrs. younger than he) rather than his granddaughter and daughter, as he had originally planned.

I fully expect that a few years prior to the lease's end in 2025, discussions will begin on a replacement for the Superdome (which will be 50 years old at that point), but not "when Tom Benson dies".

[STL FANATIC]

Some updates on the St. Louis Stadium effort...

• A lawsuit has been threatened if a public vote is not set to occur. There appears to be a statue that would require a public vote. Although this potential lawsuit doesn't appear to be for the ultra pure reason of wanting the public to make the decision. The potential plaintiff seems to have his own agenda beyond the stadium. Still the legal principles are relevant and would/will likely be brought up by others.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/lawsuit-threatened-if-st-louis-helps-pay-for-new-nfl/article_8ad1290b-77de-5556-bc5c-369206ae452c.html

• A separate lawsuit has been filed by the public organization that operates the Edward Jones Dome to nullify the pertinent statute in some form, whether by ruling it completely invalid (based on the state constitution or state law) or just inapplicable to this situation. We'll get some clarity sooner rather than later as a result, anyways. That's probably a good thing regardless.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/jones-dome-board-sues-st-louis-to-block-public-vote/article_d4235662-20b0-5808-aa4e-0316beb7974a.html

• The Stadium Task Force has POTENTIALLY acquired all or most of the land. That's vague and unconfirmed, though. It could reference the land that the actual stadium sits on, or it could be the full site. I'm sure if that's true, a more official announcement would come soon.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/jones-dome-board-sues-st-louis-to-block-public-vote/article_d4235662-20b0-5808-aa4e-0316beb7974a.html

• A couple of key local business organizations have issued statements of full support for the stadium. Stan Kroenke sits on one of the organizations and Rams COO Kevin Demoff sits on the other. That obviously doesn't mean they're behind the statements of support, just an interesting note.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/civic-progress-regional-business-council-weigh-in-on-new-nfl/article_f17b17d7-51e3-5170-a93d-fd7c52e4f431.html

[Gothamite]

What I don't see in that coverage is what sort of timetable we can expect from the lawsuits. Litigation can take months to even schedule, and years to litigate and appeal.

Realistically, how likely is it these two lawsuits will be settled and appealed in order for stadium proponents to secure all their financing by October?

[Gothamite]

Did we talk about this? Philip Rivers is apparently reluctant to sign a contract extension, because he doesn't want to play in LA:

http://utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/philip-rivers-trade-chargers-titans-acee/

[Still MIGHTY]

Did we talk about this? Philip Rivers is apparently reluctant to sign a contract extension, because he doesn't want to play in LA:

http://utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/philip-rivers-trade-chargers-titans-acee/

For god's sake. "Some in the organization are dreading a move to Los Angeles."

Moving from San Diego to Los Angeles isn't an arduous journey.

I mean I live in the middle. I know the differences between the two. I also know the similarities. Beyond the hassle of actually moving, Phillip can suck it up.

[CubsFanBudMan]

I had heard that, but I'm not sure we discussed it. Interesting that he is mentioned as being one of several Chargers employees dreading the move.

That article also led me here:

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/chargers-stadium-grubman-nfl-hurdles/

Grubman visited and sounded a bit negative, which I believe he was when he visited St. Louis, too (in a "speed it up" way). I'll have to go back and compare quotes.

San Diego's pursuit of a new Chargers stadium lacks some key elements so far and might need an accelerated timeline, a top NFL official said Tuesday after meeting with members of Mayor Kevin Faulconer's stadium task force.

No stadium designs have been produced, no specific funding sources have been identified and support from the team hasnt been secured, said NFL Executive Vice President Eric Grubman, whos overseeing possible franchise relocations to Los Angeles.

Grubman also called it very risky to wait for a public vote on any financing plan until the next general election in November 2016...

Much more at the link.

EDIT: Yep, similar stuff from him in St. Louis in January:

http://m.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/nfl-exec-st-louis-must-build-new-stadium-to-keep/article_1683d7d6-ddf1-545f-9c95-5f5b6d6a4ff4.html?mobile_touch=true

[FiddySicks]

Did we talk about this? Philip Rivers is apparently reluctant to sign a contract extension, because he doesn't want to play in LA:

http://utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/philip-rivers-trade-chargers-titans-acee/

For god's sake. "Some in the organization are dreading a move to Los Angeles."

Moving from San Diego to Los Angeles isn't an arduous journey.

I mean I live in the middle. I know the differences between the two. I also know the similarities. Beyond the hassle of actually moving, Phillip can suck it up.

I dunno, I actually kind of agree. I'm moving to San Diego for a job next month, and I honestly think I probably would've turned it down had it been in LA. San Diego doesn't have a lot of the hassles that LA does, specifically the traffic. Not that you don't already know this. San Diego is fun and the positives are worth some of the hassles. Los Angeles kinda sucks, and any benefit is usually negated by the crapy parts of it.

[2001mark]

Did we talk about this? Philip Rivers is apparently reluctant to sign a contract extension, because he doesn't want to play in LA:

http://utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/philip-rivers-trade-chargers-titans-acee/

8 home dates is too much hassle?

[Still MIGHTY]

Did we talk about this? Philip Rivers is apparently reluctant to sign a contract extension, because he doesn't want to play in LA:

http://utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/philip-rivers-trade-chargers-titans-acee/

For god's sake. "Some in the organization are dreading a move to Los Angeles."

Moving from San Diego to Los Angeles isn't an arduous journey.

I mean I live in the middle. I know the differences between the two. I also know the similarities. Beyond the hassle of actually moving, Phillip can suck it up.

I dunno, I actually kind of agree. I'm moving to San Diego for a job next month, and I honestly think I probably would've turned it down had it been in LA. San Diego doesn't have a lot of the hassles that LA does, specifically the traffic. Not that you don't already know this. San Diego is fun and the positives are worth some of the hassles. Los Angeles kinda sucks, and any benefit is usually negated by the crapy parts of it.

I'd live in either. If I had a choice between the two, I'd pick San Diego, but I'd still live in either.

It's not like either of them are Riverside.

[Gothamite]

i dunno. I've lived in LA, and while I've never lived in San Diego I have worked there for stretches.

I've found San Diego to be a smaller LA, less traffic but more provincial, shall we say. But if that's the lifestyle you want, it's easily found in LA. Especially if you have the means. This smells more like hardball negotiations than a genuine objection.

[bosrs1]

i dunno. I've lived in LA, and while I've never lived in San Diego I have worked there for stretches.

I've found San Diego to be a smaller LA, less traffic but more provincial, shall we say. But if that's the lifestyle you want, it's easily found in LA. Especially if you have the means. This smells more like hardball negotiations than a genuine objection.

Hey some people just don't like the big city. San Diego for all it's size... feels small and the people tend to think small town (which ironically is part of why the Chargers have had so much trouble with a new stadium). If Rivers with his massive brood of kids doesn't feel that uprooting them to an unappealing big city place to live like LA I'm willing to take him at his word. I share the same feeling.

[bosrs1]

I had heard that, but I'm not sure we discussed it. Interesting that he is mentioned as being one of several Chargers employees dreading the move.

That article also led me here:

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/chargers-stadium-grubman-nfl-hurdles/

Grubman visited and sounded a bit negative, which I believe he was when he visited St. Louis, too (in a "speed it up" way). I'll have to go back and compare quotes.

San Diego's pursuit of a new Chargers stadium lacks some key elements so far and might need an accelerated timeline, a top NFL official said Tuesday after meeting with members of Mayor Kevin Faulconer's stadium task force.

No stadium designs have been produced, no specific funding sources have been identified and support from the team hasnt been secured, said NFL Executive Vice President Eric Grubman, whos overseeing possible franchise relocations to Los Angeles.

Grubman also called it very risky to wait for a public vote on any financing plan until the next general election in November 2016...

Much more at the link.

EDIT: Yep, similar stuff from him in St. Louis in January:

http://m.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/nfl-exec-st-louis-must-build-new-stadium-to-keep/article_1683d7d6-ddf1-545f-9c95-5f5b6d6a4ff4.html?mobile_touch=true

Grubman's visit sounded very negative for San Diego. He basically shat all over the CSAG's stadium plan which wasn't going to have a direct public contribution. Most of the "public" funds they were looking at, like naming rights, development rights, etc... he shot down or said belong to the team not the city. On top of that he roundabout said the Chargers have no interest in Mission Valley (despite the Chargers claims to the contrary in the press), which means it's downtown or nothing. And downtown isn't happening for a myriad of reasons. SD had a fork stuck in it pretty definitively.

[TheOldRoman]

Did we talk about this? Philip Rivers is apparently reluctant to sign a contract extension, because he doesn't want to play in LA:

http://utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/14/philip-rivers-trade-chargers-titans-acee/

For god's sake. "Some in the organization are dreading a move to Los Angeles."

Moving from San Diego to Los Angeles isn't an arduous journey.

I mean I live in the middle. I know the differences between the two. I also know the similarities. Beyond the hassle of actually moving, Phillip can suck it up.

I dunno, I actually kind of agree. I'm moving to San Diego for a job next month, and I honestly think I probably would've turned it down had it been in LA. San Diego doesn't have a lot of the hassles that LA does, specifically the traffic. Not that you don't already know this. San Diego is fun and the positives are worth some of the hassles. Los Angeles kinda sucks, and any benefit is usually negated by the crapy parts of it.

I understand a normal person preferring San Diego, but honestly, Rivers can build a 20 room mansion an hour away from the stadium and drive to the practice fields three times a week, then have a limo take him to the stadium for games eight times a year. Or, he can live in a penthouse overlooking the stadium, if he preferred. He's not at all limited. It seems a little trivial if he really is weighing a chance to win a title and likely make more money over a small inconvenience for 40 games over five years. But that's assuming he thinks the Chargers have a chance to win a Super Bowl and wants to stay there to begin with. That's a big assumption.

[Gothamite]

Yeah, there's that. The 1% doesn't have to actually live where they live. And are plenty of smaller-feeling communities around LA if that's the feeling he's looking for.

Besides, San Diego isn't exactly Green Bay. It's the second-largest city in California, in a metro area of 3.2 million people.

[2001mark]

Safe to assume Rivers will be living in San Diego the rest of his life after NFL.

Either he plays in Los Angeles or Nashville, neither which are San Diego.

[Evil G]

Or the Chargers, y'know, won't move.

[Gothamite]

Rumors are that the Chargers will now trade him while they can, so an eventual decision to stay in San Diego might not actually make a difference.