With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Newest NFL Stadium Proposal
It’s been a couple of months, so bring on the NFL to LA stories!
Ed Roski and that City of Industry Stadium was so last year. They got their environmental impact reports done and settled most of the lawsuits by the NIMBY folks out in Walnut, Diamond Bar and other environs heretofore unexplored. But since their plan is incumbent on owning an NFL team, this plan has fallen by the wayside.
Now the United Empire of Anschutz are putting their hat in the ring. This plan calls for a privately funded billion-dollar retractable-roof stadium to replace the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center right next to STAPLES Center in order not only to lure the NFL back to Los Angeles, but to also bring conventions, trade shows, the Final Four, college football games and the 2022 World Cup Final.
Anschultz Entertainment Group CEO Tim Leiweke spoke to Steve Mason and John Ireland on their radio show on AM 710 KSPN on Friday and said, “Before we built the [Marriott] we were the 26th convention market in the United States. That hotel allowed us to jump to 15. This new event center would allow us to be top five in the country. We’d double the number of conventions we’d be getting.”
Support for LAist comes from
He continued, “If we get ours done five new hotels get built in Los Angeles, and we fill up all the existing hotels with all the big conventions. So the economic impact of that billion means, and this isn’t spin, there will be 20-25,000 jobs every year created because of the new hotels, the new West Hall, the new conventions.”
The stadium would have a maximum capacity of 78,000 for Super Bowls, Final Fours and soccer matches and collapse down to 64,000 for regular NFL use.
For all of the supposed negativity T.J. Simers is accused of hurling, he is really high on this idea going so far as picturing the Chargers and the Rams making their home in this “event center.”
Great. For the past 16 years, we’ve had promises of the NFL returning before something came up. The Seattle Seahawks were en route to Los Angeles before a last minute injunction prevented the move. The team was eventually sold to Paul Allen who got a new stadium and kept the team in the Emerald City. Then Los Angeles was promised an expansion franchise by the NFL, but thanks to the bumbling politicians in city hall who essential stuck their thumbs up their assholes that team eventually became the Houston Texans. Landfills in Carson, renovating the Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. Come and gone.
I’ll believe any of these promises when I get a press release in my inbox that says, “[Insert team name] are moving to Los Angeles.” Until then I’m more than content watching black-out-less NFL game every Sunday and rooting for my Chicago Bears from afar.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist