The rival groups led by Michael Ovitz and Eli Broad
vying for an NFL expansion team in L.A. "moved toward their
goal" Wednesday by meeting with NFL execs and CA Gov. Gray
Davis rep Bill Chadwick, according to Todd Harmonson of the
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. The meeting showcased "preliminary
drawings" of a renovated L.A. Coliseum which they hope to
present to league owners in Chicago on July 28. NHL Kings
co-Owner and Broad partner Ed Roski: "I think it was a very
productive meeting. We've come up with some very good
ideas, and now we're putting them down on paper. Hopefully
we'll have something solid to take to the owners." NFL
VP/Communications Greg Aiello: "The groups are coming
together for a site development plan and a stadium design
and seem to be moving forward." Though few details have
been revealed about the latest plan for the Coliseum, Roski
"called the concept a compromise between the idea he and
Broad presented to league owners in Atlanta in May and the
one" Ovitz submitted. But instead of covering all the
parking garages with a "park-like setting" in the Ovitz
plan, only the main garage now would be topped with grass,
trees and playing fields (O.C. REGISTER, 7/15). In L.A.,
Steve Dilbeck reports that the Broad and Ovitz groups will
announce July 23 that they have OK'd a compromise plan.
Dilbeck notes the stadium's design "more closely" resembles
that presented in the Ovitz plan (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/16).