Hollywood Park has given Michael Ovitz and Ron Burkle
the option on a 97-acre stadium site, "prompting Ovitz to
declare that Los Angeles will now be given the NFL's 32nd
franchise to begin play in 2003 at the league's meetings in
Atlanta next week," according to T.J. Simers in a front-page
Sports story in today's L.A. TIMES. Ovitz: "Based on my
conversations with [NFL Commissioner Paul Tagalibue] and the
co-chairman of the expansion committee, I believe we are
going to leave Atlanta Wednesday having a football franchise
for Los Angeles." Ovitz said that he has been "led to
believe" that Tagliabue "will lead the discussion to swing
favor in L.A.'s favor" at the meetings. But Simers reports
that several owners said that a decision "has not been
made." One said, "He's going to still have to blow our
socks off." But the league "has been conducting extensive
background checks on Ovitz and Burkle detailing league
requirements and policy for new owners." The league "also
has asked Ovitz's ownership group ... to deliver a down
payment on an expansion franchise in the next few days," and
it "suggested" Ovitz put up $100M in "earnest money, to be
surrendered if he failed to deliver on his promises." Ovitz
said that he expects Houston's franchise fee to "be higher
than the one presented by his ownership group, but said he
has received assurances that the league will accept a lower
offer." One NFL owner: "It's L.A.'s if Ovitz follows
through on everything. He just has to follow through."
Simers cites sources as saying that the Raiders made "three
calls to Hollywood Park in the last few days" seeking an
option on the land (L.A. TIMES, 9/30).
MOVING FORWARD? Meanwhile, in Houston, John Williams
reports that Bob McNair is negotiating this week with NFL
Expansion Committee co-Chairs Robert Kraft and Jerry
Richardson on a franchise fee, with "hopes of completing a
deal next week." The figure "is roughly" $625M, though
McNair "is trying to lower it and get easier payment terms"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/30). Giants co-Owner Wellington Mara:
"I feel that maybe we're forcing ourselves in Los Angeles.
How long has it been since we had a sellout game in Los
Angeles?" (USA TODAY, 9/30). Giants co-Owner and Finance
Committee member Robert Tisch: "We should give Houston the
team, and look forward to another day in Los Angeles."
Tisch said that "it was unlikely Houston would receive a
relocated team, while the league keeps pursuing expansion in
Los Angeles" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/30).