NFL Merry-Go-Round: Relocation Roundelay

[bosrs1]

Not sure there's much of a distinction to be made between LA proper and the LA suburbs, in terms of this relocation discussion.

The article seemed to think so. One of the arguments LA would make against giving it to Roski is that LA residents won't drive the 20 miles to Industry. And with their traffic it's not a bad argument to make. Trade off is of course that Industry opens up the entire Inland Empire as an area to draw from as well which the downtown site is too far from.

[Gothamite]

I think you're reading something into that article that isn't there.

Other than one CBS writer's mention of real estate around the Industry site, the real contrast appears to be between the team financing plans, not stadium locations.

[bosrs1]

I think you're reading something into that article that isn't there.

Other than one CBS writer's mention of real estate around the Industry site, the real contrast appears to be between the team financing plans, not stadium locations.

"“What’s interesting about that site is that it’s a 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football,” Casserly said. “In other words, you’ll have plenty of room for the stadium, parking, entertainment, the ‘NFL experience.’ Sounds like a Super Bowl site to me.”"

Seems to be plainly talking about differences in the sites as well. The following paragraph also talked about the distance issue.

I agree, as does the article though, that the financing is the huge issue. But part of that financing also has to do with the sites themselves. Roski's site does lend itself to a lot more dedicated ancillary development that would benefit the team and the NFL far more than the small downtown site where the ancillary benefits would belong to AEG and others around the Staples/Convention Center area.

[Gothamite]

That quote was shopped from a CBS writer, not anyone actually involved in the deal. "Sounds like a Super Bowl site to (him)?" Who cares? And I'm a proponent of the Industry plan.

Roski's Industry plan will also result in a lot of development surrounding the stadium site that will benefit him. He is a developer, after all. "The stadium is the crown jewel of a 600-acre complex that will also house movie theaters, retail shops, a concert hall and maybe even a branch of the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

The real issues seem to be that Anschutz wants to buy his share of the team for pennies on the dollar, and he wants his own company to handle the ticketing and marketing operations, taking a cut right off the top. That's what the NFL is objecting to.

[bosrs1]

Here's an interesting question. Which of the two LA stadium designs do people prefer purely aesthetically (not taking location into account) and then which overall do people prefer including location.

Industry Stadium in Industry, CA

(approx 25 mi east of downtown LA, 25 mi west of the heart of the Inland Empire and 20 mi north of Anaheim)

Farmers Field in Downtown LA

(in downtown LA, 60 miles west of the heart of the Inland Empire, and 25 miles NW from Anaheim).

[Gothamite]

I would much rather have the stadium downtown, but prefer the Grand Crossing plan overall. Especially the aesthetics - better the beer gardens than downtown's LA Live.

[Brian in Boston]

""What's interesting about that site is that it's a 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football," Casserly said. "In other words, you'll have plenty of room for the stadium, parking, entertainment, the 'NFL experience.'"

Yawn...

Seriously. "[A] 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football" is out-and-out bullsh1t. "[T]otally devoted to football"? No. Nobody is going to be looking to take-in the "NFL Experience" in the middle of April, May, June, July... well, you get the picture. In order to generate revenue out of that 600-acre site, Roski, whichever team relocates, and the NFL are going to have to develop the typical mix of Chili's, Ruth's Chris Steakhouses, multi-screen cineplexes, etc. that comprise most large, suburban, mixed-use developments. The only difference would be a stadium sitting smack-dab in the middle. We're talking the Kraft family's Patriot Place on steroids.

"Sounds like a Super Bowl site to me.""

Earth to Charlie Casserly: A downtown Los Angeles stadium flanked by LA Live would be a Super Bowl site, as well.

I agree, as does the article though, that the financing is the huge issue.

It isn't a "huge issue". It is a negotiating point. To date, AEG has driven the agenda. They've called the shots... they've done the deals. Goodell, the NFL brass, and the owners of teams potentially looking to relocate are simply flexing their muscles because they can. They're sending a message that they will be heard with regard to hammering-out the details on the relocvation of an NFL franchise to Farmers Field. Which, frankly, is to be expected. That's how business negotiations transpire.

Bottom line? I still believe AEG has the edge over Roski. When the dust clears, an NFL franchise - or, two - will be setting-up shop in downtown Los Angeles. It's all about location, location, location. The NFL can be part of a development that revitalizes the downtown core of America's second-largest city/media market... or, it can be part of a glorified strip-mall-with-a-stadium - ahem... I meant mixed-use development - in the middle-of-nowhere on the way to Ontario, Riverside and San Bernardino.

[FiddySicks]

""What's interesting about that site is that it's a 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football," Casserly said. "In other words, you'll have plenty of room for the stadium, parking, entertainment, the 'NFL experience.'"

Yawn...

Seriously. "[A] 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football" is out-and-out bullsh1t. "[T]otally devoted to football"? No. Nobody is going to be looking to take-in the "NFL Experience" in the middle of April, May, June, July... well, you get the picture. In order to generate revenue out of that 600-acre site, Roski, whichever team relocates, and the NFL are going to have to develop the typical mix of Chili's, Ruth's Chris Steakhouses, multi-screen cineplexes, etc. that comprise most large, suburban, mixed-use developments. The only difference would be a stadium sitting smack-dab in the middle....

Does this sound like Glendale to anyone else?

[bosrs1]

""What's interesting about that site is that it's a 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football," Casserly said. "In other words, you'll have plenty of room for the stadium, parking, entertainment, the 'NFL experience.'"

Yawn...

Seriously. "[A] 600-acre site which would be totally devoted to football" is out-and-out bullsh1t. "[T]otally devoted to football"? No. Nobody is going to be looking to take-in the "NFL Experience" in the middle of April, May, June, July... well, you get the picture. In order to generate revenue out of that 600-acre site, Roski, whichever team relocates, and the NFL are going to have to develop the typical mix of Chili's, Ruth's Chris Steakhouses, multi-screen cineplexes, etc. that comprise most large, suburban, mixed-use developments. The only difference would be a stadium sitting smack-dab in the middle....

Does this sound like Glendale to anyone else?

Yep. Glendale, Patriot Place in Foxboro, etc... It's obviously something NFL teams and the league like and have experience with. It's one reason I think Roski's plan is more appealing to the league than it would otherwise seem. Sure the downtown site is nice, but it's not ideal in many ways not the least of which is poor access due to the traffic, lack of parking, and lack of additional development that they can do around it.

[Gothamite]

I'm with you, by and large. I'd much rather have the stadium downtown, if possible.

I do disagree with this:

To date, AEG has driven the agenda. They've called the shots... they've done the deals.

Kind of. I think AEG has been much better with public relations. The only thing they've done that Roski hasn't is pre-sell the stadium naming rights.

I also think that AEG's financial demands are out of line, and won't be accepted by an NFL franchise. Paying pennies on the dollar? For a large stake in an NFL team? No way. That's what struggling leagues do. Not the NFL.

[Gothamite]

Sure the downtown site is nice, but it's not ideal in many ways not the least of which is poor access due to the traffic, lack of parking, and lack of additional development that they can do around it.

Why do you think the NFL has any interest in "additional development that they can do"? They're not developers, that's not the business they're in. The NFL didn't have anything to do with Patriot Place - that was all Kraft.

Either plan would be surrounded by development. The downtown plan has much of it done already - they call it "LA Live" - and Roski's plan would create that development from scratch. I don't see that as a factor in the decision.

[Brian in Boston]

Yep. Glendale, Patriot Place in Foxboro, etc... It's obviously something NFL teams and the league like and have experience with. It's one reason I think Roski's plan is more appealing to the league than it would otherwise seem. Sure the downtown site is nice, but it's not ideal in many ways not the least of which is poor access due to the traffic, lack of parking, and lack of additional development that they can do around it.

Yet, the National Football League has just as many franchises playing their games in stadiums located within their host city's urban core as they do playing in suburban locales.

Atlanta

Baltimore

Charlotte

Chicago

Cincinnati

Cleveland

Denver

Detroit

Indianapolis

Jacksonville

Minneapolis

Nashville

New Orleans

Pittsburgh

Seattle

St. Louis

All of these cities play host to NFL stadiums in the urban core. The stadiums in question may not all be located as close to their respective "downtown" districts as the proposed Farmers Field will be to downtown Los Angeles, but they are far more urban than "Glendale, Patriot Place in Foxboro, etc.". In fact, of the thirteen NFL stadiums that have been built or significantly renovated since the year 2000, more than half of them are located in the urban core, as opposed to being sited in the suburbs.

[Brian in Boston]

Incidentally, the NFL's supposed "problem" with the Farmers Field plan has nothing to do with the league's leadership preferring a suburban site to an urban one. Rather, the powers-that-be amongst NFL executives and owners are responding to AEG's negotiating points to date with some hard-nosed counter-proposals. Nothing more, nothing less.

[4_tattoos]

I heard the Oakland A's were supposed to be moving into a new stadium. Is this true or false?

If it's true. What would the odds be of the Raiders temporarily playing at the Niners new stadium for a year or so while The Coliseium is renovated.

[FiddySicks]

The A's have to actually get a new building built first, which in today's world isn't likely.

[dfwabel]

I heard the Oakland A's were supposed to be moving into a new stadium. Is this true or false?

If it's true. What would the odds be of the Raiders temporarily playing at the Niners new stadium for a year or so while The Coliseium is renovated.

That is false. San Jose does not have a ballot measure for a stadium planned. Oakland also has done nothing but have a design and possible location, but no $$$.

As for the second issue, the only person who has brought up the Raiders playing in Santa Clara is Raiders CEO Amy Trask.

[BBTV]

Is the Freemont A's thing dead?

[dfwabel]

Is the Freemont A's thing dead?

Since 2009.

[Gothamite]

I don't think it was ever truly alive. More of a wishlist than actual ballpark.

Shame, though. Loved the design, with the stands extending over the road.

[dfwabel]

I don't think it was ever truly alive. More of a wishlist than actual ballpark.

Shame, though. Loved the design, with the stands extending over the road.

Lew Wolff's original site for the stadium, residential and retail was essentially a wish, but in early 2010, the city of Fremont proposed to use the site of the NUMMI Auto plant as a site after GM and Toyota closed the plant. That plan never got to voters as four months later, Tesla Motors bought the site and plant.