NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said yesterday at the NFL
owners meetings in New Orleans that he "cannot foresee" the
return of pro football to L.A. any time before the year 2000,
according to T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES. An L.A. delegation
of politicians and businessmen were trying to sell the NFL
stadium committee on the viability of a $229M Coliseum project,
but Simers notes the project does not include a "specific plan"
to finance the deal or a prospective team owner. Broncos Owner
Pat Bowlen, on the Coliseum plan: "The toughest part about it is
the financial aspects. I don't want to throw cold water all over
their work, but I just don't see anyone going for this particular
opportunity." A Price Waterhouse report, included in the books
given to NFL owners, suggested that an NFL owner could realize
between $100-150M in the sale of PSLs in a new Coliseum at an
average price of $1,700-2,500. Simers notes that would leave as
much as $130M toward the renovation unfinanced. NFL President
Neil Austrian: "What they have to do is somehow, some way get
more public money into the project to make it work" (L.A. TIMES,
10/31).
SUPER BOWL PITCHES: Tampa and Atlanta make their pitches for
the 2000 Super Bowl this morning. Pat Yasinskas of the TAMPA
TRIBUNE reports that Tampa Super Bowl Task Force Chair Jack
Wilson will lead the 15-minute presentation and Tampa Mayor Dick
Greco and Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman will also
speak. Greco and Norman plan to "remind" the owners of a promise
Commissioner Tagliabue made that if the Bucs got a new stadium
built, he would recommend they host a Super Bowl (TAMPA TRIBUNE,
10/31). Tampa's bid reportedly offers around $5M worth of
inducements (John Romano, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/31). Len
Pasquarelli of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION notes that Atlanta's
presentation "is expected to rely heavily" on the theme of
Atlanta as an international city with scenes from the Olympics.
The bid, valued at $7.5M, is being presented by the Atlanta
Sports Council and will be "boosted by the presence" of Falcons
Owner Rankin Smith, "who is held in high esteem by his peers"
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/31).
CROSS OWNERSHIP: NFL owners yesterday "took no action on the
sticky issue of cross-ownership," according to USA TODAY's Gordon
Forbes. A vote is expected next March. ...Patriots Owner Bob
Kraft says he will "never move" the team out of the New England
area for a "sweetheart deal." Kraft: "If I couldn't make a go of
it financially then I'd put it up for sale to someone else" (USA
TODAY, 10/31). ...CBS/USA TODAY's Danny Sheridan reports with the
World League losing "almost" $50M in two years, "some NFL owners
want to shut it down now" (Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY, 10/31).
