Irvine, CA's NFL expansion hopes received a "serious
setback" Friday when the league refused to allow the plan to
be heard by league owners at a meeting in October, according
to Harmonson & Luna of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. NFL
VP/Communications Greg Aiello: "They won't be a part of the
meetings and there are no plans for any further meetings on
the issue at this time." Irvine Mayor Christina Shea was
"stunned and angry" at the news: "It would be completely
inappropriate for them not to meet with us." Former USC
player and leader of the proposal, Anthony Davis, said he
had received positive feedback from the league and would
continue his efforts to bring a team to Orange County.
Davis: "I know we'll be talking with them in the next couple
of weeks. People might think we're behind, but we know
we're in a good position." The NFL has invited two L.A.
groups and one from Houston to make presentations at
meetings in K.C. on October 27-28 (O.C. REGISTER, 9/19).
TAGLIABUE'S TIMETABLE: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
said "there's a general assumption that [expansion] may be
in the fourth [2001] or fifth year [2002] of the television
contract," according to T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES.
Simers: "That would mean the NFL would have to award the
32nd franchise to Houston or Los Angeles sometime in 1999 to
allow for the construction of a new stadium to open in
2002." Tagliabue added that a 32nd franchise could be
awarded at the owners' meetings in March (L.A. TIMES, 9/19).
PROBLEM, HOUSTON? In Houston, John Williams reports
that local officials looking to finish a stadium proposal
for the October meetings are "considering adding a $2 ticket
tax and $1 parking tax for football games and other sporting
events." If a deal is not finalized soon "between a variety
of interests," including Harris County execs, who have taken
over a "bigger part of the negotiations," a deal may be in
jeopardy. Williams: "Because of recent delays, Houston has
likely lost a golden chance to remain far ahead of [L.A.] by
having its presentation ready to present to the NFL Stadium
Committee" (John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/22).
