NFL: L.A. return advances

23 November 2009 |permalink | email article

Billionaire developer Ed Roski’s proposal to build an innovative new $800-million NFL stadium for the 2013 season on 600-acre property of undeveloped property his real estate company owns in the City of Industry between two freeways has caught the attention of both state and local officials.

It has also moved a significant step closer with the attention of pro football-starved fans in the greater Los Angeles area that have been without a local franchise since the Raiders and Rams left Southern California for Oakland and St. Louis after the 1994 season.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported that more than 105,000 astonishing season ticket requests have been made to Roski’s Majestic Real Estate Company. John Semcken, who said the project is “now real” and is overseeing the project, noted that the firm has received nearly 18 times more requests than would be available.

An existing NFL team must agree to move to Los Angeles before construction can begin but Roski said in late September that he plans to begin the process of negotiating to buy a team after the Feb. 7 Super Bowl. Initially, the team could play in the Rose Bowl or the Coliseum.

He’s identified six potential prospects – the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, Rams and Raiders – as candidates for the new stadium. Last week, however, the Raiders announced a tentative agreement to extend their stadium lease through the 2013 season. No tears here! 

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