The NFL said Wednesday at its owners' meetings in K.C.
that it might decide between Houston and L.A. and award its
32nd franchise as soon as February 16 "in a special meeting
in Dallas," according to T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES. But
Simers adds that "if the buzz after Tuesday's presentations
is accurate, the race between L.A. and Houston is over."
Simers: "It is now Los Angeles' to lose, the only debate
remaining in the next 110 days being who wins" between Ed
Roski's New Coliseum Partners and Michael Ovitz's Carson
group. Roski: "It looks like our work has born some fruit,
and this is the best news that we could have hoped for
coming out of this meeting." Ovitz, when hearing of the
NFL's plan: "We're a lot better off than we were 48 hours
ago." As for the timetable, Ovitz, who said that he needed
an answer by '99's first quarter: "Between the end of the
year and Feb. 16 -- I can handle that, but I can't handle
much beyond that" (L.A. TIMES, 10/29). Houston NFL Holdings
President Steve Patterson: "That's the type of time frame we
were looking for" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/29). Commissioner
Paul Tagliabue, on when future expansion could happen: "Not
in my lifetime, or yours" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).
WHAT'S NEXT: Tagliabue said that the league's finance
and stadium committees will join and meet over the next 30
to 60 days with the three groups. Simers reports that the
fee the NFL will set for the team, to start play in 2002,
will "begin" at $476M -- the price paid by Al Lerner for the
Browns. Roski and Houston bid leader Bob McNair said that
they "had no quibble with the starting" franchise fee, but
Ovitz said a fee that high "is unrealistic in assembling a
doable deal." Ovitz: "We will have to assess that. But
it's difficult to do a privately-funded deal for a stadium
with the Cleveland numbers." McNair: "We'll pay whatever
the market price is. We don't expect a discount and we
don't expect to pay a premium" (L.A. TIMES, 10/29). The
committee will be co-chaired by Finance Committee Chair/
Patriots Owner Bob Kraft and Stadium Committee
Chair/Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson (Mult., 10/29).
Giants co-Owner Wellington Mara, on the committee: "That's
what we do. When we can't come to a decision on something,
we appoint a committee" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/29).
WHO'S IN THE LEAD? In L.A., T.J. Simers writes that
Ovitz's financial pitch "fell flat with many of the owners,"
as they did not learn "what equity -- if any -- Ovitz and
his partners intend to put in the project." But Simers also
notes that the New Coliseum group "probably needs more
clout," and Roski said that he "remains open to adding
partners." Simers reports that talks have taken place
between Roski and Fox officials, Flyers/76ers Chair Ed
Snider and Disney CEO Michael Eisner (L.A. TIMES, 10/29).
But in DC, Leonard Shapiro writes that "several" owners said
they "were impressed with the Ovitz presentation,
particularly the group's financial and marketing plans"
(WASHINGTON POST, 10/29). Kraft: "It's so hard to get
stadium deals. ... I think that Houston at this point has
its act together better than Los Angeles, but Los Angeles
does have a period of time to get its act together." Colts
Owner Jim Irsay said there is "a chance for [L.A.] to get
more certainty in their proposals" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).
DOMINO EFFECT: Houston's McNair said that if his bid
fails, and the Broncos' stadium referendum doesn't pass, he
will try to buy the Broncos and move them to Houston.
McNair said if the Denver vote failed, Broncos Owner Pat
Bowlen "said he might sell the team," and McNair expressed
his interest. But Bowlen countered: "The only thing I said
to McNair is that his presentation was fantastic. ... The
last thing I would say to anybody from Houston is, 'See me
because I'll sell the team.' That's way out there. It
never happened" (DENVER POST, 10/29)....Former Vikings
President Roger Headrick said that Vikings Owner Red McCombs
will "see if he can team up with [Cowboys Owner] Jerry
Jones" to get a team in L.A. rather than Houston. Headrick
said McCombs wants to keep the San Antonio market open in
case "things don't work out in Minnesota," McCombs could
relocate his team to San Antonio (PIONEER PRESS, 10/29).
BATTLE ROYAL IN L.A.: ESPN's Shelley Smith examined the
two L.A. groups in a "Cover Story" on "SportsCenter."
Lakers Exec VP Jerry West, who is part of Ovitz's group:
"This country is based on being competitive, and we're
talking about two competitive groups of people. The most
fun part of it is trying to beat someone in a game which has
some very high stakes" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/28).
