Majestic Expects NFL Team In L.A. By '11 After Clearing Last Hurdle

State Senate Has Given L.A. Stadium Project An Environmental Exception

Majestic Realty VP John Semcken Thursday said that he "thinks an NFL team will be playing at either" the Rose Bowl or L.A. Memorial Coliseum in '11, before moving into the developer's new stadium in City of Industry in '13, according to Steve Hunt of the SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE. The California state Senate Wednesday "wiped away the last hurdle" to the proposed stadium by providing the project with an environmental exception. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still "must sign the bill" into law, but state Sen. Gloria Romero said that she "expects that to happen soon." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that he did not know if Majestic Realty Chair & CEO Ed Roski had "contacted any teams since the bill passed, but there would be no league prohibition on him doing that." Semcken noted that the stadium's exemption "takes effect 90 days from when the Senate passed it," assuming Schwarzenegger signs it. Semcken: "The governor signs the bill and we've got a stadium we can build." He added, "We're going to do something spectacular. Something the San Gabriel Valley has never seen. We're going to build something wonderful. It'll be to Los Angeles what Jerry Jones' stadium is to Dallas." City of Industry Mayor Dave Perez said that the city will wait for Majestic to "provide estimates for ticket sales and other revenue," and the city will use those estimates to "sell bonds" for stadium construction. Hunt notes the Chargers are a "team to keep an eye on." Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani has said that the team "doesn't want to move," but he noted that "without a new stadium, the Chargers will not have enough money to sign the best players" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 10/16). Semcken said that the company "plans to begin approaching teams after the Super Bowl in February" (AP, 10/15). 

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH: Schwarzenegger's Press Secretary Aaron McLear indicated that the governor "likes the stadium proposal, but hopes it doesn't attract a California team." McLear noted Schwarzenegger "follows the 49ers, Raiders and Chargers, three of six teams rumored to have an interest in moving to Industry." But he said that Schwarzenegger "hopes Roski attracts an out-of-state team." McLear: "We would push to maintain the current NFL teams, we don't want one from here" (SGVTRIBUNE.com, 10/15).