Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Is Los Angeles going to miss out on NFL opportunity?
On Tuesday, the Anaheim City Council approved the framework for talks with the NFL regarding a new Stadium in the city. A seemingly last minute entrant into the race for a future NFL team, Anaheim, might just be pulling ahead in the race.
Originally, the race was between The Rose Bowl and The Coliseum, then Carson. As Los Angeles development fissured and fractured amongst the egos of rich developers, the NFL has been unable to take any definitive action. At one time, it was conceivable that L.A. might have a team as early as 2006, but lack of City vision has pushed the timetable back to 2008.
Then followed the announcement that Anaheim was being added to the fray; supposedly, because the NFL was unhappy with the progress of the other locations. As the second largest media market in the United States, the NFL is fully committed and desperate to get back into the area.
In the past, commissioner Tagliabue has hinted that the area is fully capable of supporting multiple teams, stating, "Conceivably, this is a two-team market like New York and like Los Angeles was in the past.” So, perhaps the NFL added Anaheim to the mix realizing that if the Los Angeles sites cannot pave a path to the 2008 season, Anaheim would, and the L.A. market could be revisited again a few years down the road.
Regardless, Los Angeles appears on the verge of blowing an exceptional opportunity. As city elders continue to push downtown development, it seems obvious the city should focus on the Coliseum as ‘its site’. Aside from the downtown location, it is the only location that has direct Metro access – a huge boost for dealing with the additional traffic a franchise will generate. Additionally, it would connect downtown hotels and convention centers, via the subway, to the stadium, further boosting and integrating downtown cohesiveness – truly making downtown the center of the city.
It seems inconceivable that L.A. residents will flock in mass to Anaheim to support a team – not that Anaheim necessarily needs them to, but it will certainly be unfortunate that L.A. might have to go another decade before being served by the NFL.
It can only be hoped that the L.A. City council can realize the potential of the Coliseum site. During the era of the Raiders, the Coliseum was isolated, situated next to a downtown, dead on the weekends. Now, new residential and retail developments have created a new downtown vibe. Coupled with the Staples Center, Disney Hall, and other ‘in the works’ developments, such as the proposed Grand Avenue redevelopment, the downtown vibe could transform yet again, converting downtown Los Angeles into a major cultural icon.
Let’s hope the opportunity isn’t wasted.
Originally, the race was between The Rose Bowl and The Coliseum, then Carson. As Los Angeles development fissured and fractured amongst the egos of rich developers, the NFL has been unable to take any definitive action. At one time, it was conceivable that L.A. might have a team as early as 2006, but lack of City vision has pushed the timetable back to 2008.
Then followed the announcement that Anaheim was being added to the fray; supposedly, because the NFL was unhappy with the progress of the other locations. As the second largest media market in the United States, the NFL is fully committed and desperate to get back into the area.
In the past, commissioner Tagliabue has hinted that the area is fully capable of supporting multiple teams, stating, "Conceivably, this is a two-team market like New York and like Los Angeles was in the past.” So, perhaps the NFL added Anaheim to the mix realizing that if the Los Angeles sites cannot pave a path to the 2008 season, Anaheim would, and the L.A. market could be revisited again a few years down the road.
Regardless, Los Angeles appears on the verge of blowing an exceptional opportunity. As city elders continue to push downtown development, it seems obvious the city should focus on the Coliseum as ‘its site’. Aside from the downtown location, it is the only location that has direct Metro access – a huge boost for dealing with the additional traffic a franchise will generate. Additionally, it would connect downtown hotels and convention centers, via the subway, to the stadium, further boosting and integrating downtown cohesiveness – truly making downtown the center of the city.
It seems inconceivable that L.A. residents will flock in mass to Anaheim to support a team – not that Anaheim necessarily needs them to, but it will certainly be unfortunate that L.A. might have to go another decade before being served by the NFL.
It can only be hoped that the L.A. City council can realize the potential of the Coliseum site. During the era of the Raiders, the Coliseum was isolated, situated next to a downtown, dead on the weekends. Now, new residential and retail developments have created a new downtown vibe. Coupled with the Staples Center, Disney Hall, and other ‘in the works’ developments, such as the proposed Grand Avenue redevelopment, the downtown vibe could transform yet again, converting downtown Los Angeles into a major cultural icon.
Let’s hope the opportunity isn’t wasted.
