The NFL owners spring meetings officially begin today
in San Diego and "what to do about the Los Angeles market is
one of the most compelling matters the NFL is to consider,"
according to Jerry Magee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.
NHL Kings owners Edward Roski Jr. and Philip Anschutz are
spearheading an effort to bring football back to a remodeled
Coliseum and Roski said he believes the league is "very
seriously" considering the project (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE,
5/20). But in L.A., T.J. Simers examines the plan by Roski
and Anschutz and writes that "NFL officials, befuddled and
even irritated with Roski's 'presumptuous' attempt to crash
their party ... on Monday bearing luxury suite commitments
for a new [L.A.] Coliseum, opted to huddle privately with
him and brief him on league etiquette after introducing him
to the stadium and finance committees." Simers writes that
NFL owners "interpreted" the $10,000 luxury suite
commitments for a new Coliseum "as a publicity move to apply
pressure on them." One league rep told Simers: "If you're
talking a full year's lease on $150,000 luxury suites,
that's something else." Simers: "The NFL owners will like
Anschutz, because he is a billionaire, and that kind of
thing impresses this group. ... However there are
reservations already being expressed among NFL owners about
Anschutz's interest in becoming involved in football because
he has had opportunities to pursue baseball and football
ownership in Denver and never did so." Simers: "The game
has begun ... and if Los Angeles intends to make a serious
bid for a football team, it rests now on the credibility and
determination of Roski and Anschutz" (L.A. TIMES, 5/20).
FORECAST: As NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue appeared
at a ceremony yesterday for the completion of upper deck
renovations at the recently-renamed Qualcomm Stadium in San
Diego, USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes, "The ceremony fit
his agenda to a tee. Stadium issues in several NFL cities
are commanding much of Tagliabue's attention these days."
Before arriving in San Diego, he met in Arizona with a group
eyeing a new domed stadium for the Cardinals. Bell writes
that after the meetings, Tagliabue will travel to San
Francisco and Seattle "to drum up support" for the 49ers and
Seahawks stadium measures (USA TODAY, 5/20)....In Baltimore,
Ken Rosenthal writes on speculation that the Colts name
could return to Baltimore if the team relocates to
Cleveland, "assuming the identity" of the Browns. MD
Stadium Authority Chair John Moag: "My gut tells me there's
some real validity to it. But that's just a gut reaction"
(Baltimore SUN, 5/20)....In Seattle, Elliott Almond wrote on
potential destinations if the Seahawks stadium referendum
fails. Pat Lynch, L.A.'s Coliseum Commission GM: "(Buying
the Seahawks) could make a lot of sense. I wouldn't be so
quick to dismiss L.A. especially if we are able to identify
a list of potential owners" (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/19).
