Industry, Walnut Reach Tentative Deal Over Proposed Stadium

City Of Industry Mayor Says Tentative Agreement Has Been Reached Over Stadium

City of Industry Mayor Dave Perez said that a "tentative agreement" has been reached "concerning a settlement over a lawsuit filed" by Walnut, California, over Majestic Realty Co.'s proposed 75,000-seat football stadium in Industry, according to James Wagner of the SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE. Perez said that he "couldn't give specifics because of a confidentiality agreement barring public comments on the details of talks." Wagner noted any agreement "would have to be approved or rejected by Industry and Walnut city councils" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 9/19). In California, Brian Day reports "dozens of demonstrators took to the streets" yesterday to protest the stadium and Majestic Realty's "efforts to get a legislative exemption to state environmental laws for the project" (WHITTIER DAILY NEWS, 9/21).

ON THE FAST TRACK? Majestic Realty VP John Semcken Friday night at a presentation to an invitation-only audience of Orange County residents, said Industry "could have a team here as early as next year." Semcken: "We're going to be done by the end of September, one way or another, with approval for the stadium. Then it's a matter of which (existing NFL) team is going to come. There are a lot of teams whose leases are up and a lot of teams whose revenues are down." Semcken also said once the stadium is approved, Majestic "can offer it to the NFL." Semcken: "The team could move immediately, play temporarily in the Rose Bowl or play temporarily in the Coliseum ... then move into the new building in 2013 when it's completed." Semcken, who noted that there are 11.5 million residents within a 30-mile radius of the new stadium site, also pointed out that the NFL advised Majestic Realty to "plan a stadium that would house two NFL teams at the same time" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/19). But a SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE editorial stated if any project "needs a full study of its likely impacts, it is an 80,000-seat stadium plopped down in a crowded corner of a crowded county near three major freeways." The more the bill seeking an environmental exemption for the stadium is "scrutinized, the more outrageous it looks -- on several grounds" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/20).

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME: NBC's Al Michaels said of the NFL returning to L.A., "People say, 'Well, Los Angeles won't support football.' That is complete garbage. Fifty-two years ago, 102,000 showed up for Rams-49ers. The Rams used to draw 100,000 or more than 90,000 with some regularity." Michaels said the issue of the NFL returning to L.A. "is about a stadium." Michaels: "You have a stadium, you have a team, period. Nashville proved it, Jacksonville proved it, Charlotte proved it" ("Giants-Cowboys," NBC, 9/20).

LEADING THE CHARGE: In San Diego, Mike Lee reported Qualcomm Stadium officials are "building on their environmental record and looking to save money this season with cutting-edge efforts to provide solar-powered trash compactors and recycling machines that spit out coupons when people put in cash and bottles." The initiatives were not in place for yesterday's Chargers home opener, but "likely will be by midseason." Qualcomm Stadium Manager Mike McSweeney said that he is "negotiating with Waste Management for two 'reverse vending' stations" at the stadium, and he also "plans to establish two 'buy back' centers outside the stadium that pay fans who turn in cash and bottles." NFL Dir of Community Affairs David Krichavsky said that the machines "would likely be a first for pro football stadiums." Lee noted stadium officials earlier this summer also "replaced about 4,000 fluorescent bulbs with more efficient lights and watched the venue's energy consumption -- and bills -- plummet." McSweeney: "We are just trying to keep in step with city policies and get out in front of some things that we should be doing and can be doing better" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/19).