Facility Notes

Majestic Realty Co. VP John Semcken believes that an NFL team “could be playing in the Los Angeles area by the 2012 season and a second club may join it there.” Semcken, whose company has proposed a football stadium in City of Industry, Calif., said that “a team that relocates to the area could play in a renovated Rose Bowl in 2012-13 until the new stadium is ready.” Semcken: “I am hopeful we will have an agreement with a team to come here for the 2012 season.” Semcken said that “since City of Industry might not be the most appealing name, Majestic would change the name of the stadium location to Grand Crossing.” He added that he is “confident Majestic’s stadium would draw $1 billion in naming rights.” The NFL “had no comment on Semcken’s statements.” NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy in an e-mail said the league will “continue to monitor all stadium developments in the Los Angeles area” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/1).

VIKING QUEST CONTINUES: In Minneapolis, Lonetree & Kaszuba report the Arden Hills City Council yesterday agreed to work with Ramsey County “as it explores the potential of hosting a stadium in an abandoned federal munitions site” as a home for the Vikings. But Arden Hills Mayor David Grant noted that the city “has yet to see a formal stadium proposal or financing plan.” Two legislative lobbyists “told commissioners that no one seems to know just when a bill will emerge” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/1).

THE SUITE LIFE: In Baltimore, Alexander Jackson reports companies “looking to entertain at the Baltimore Grand Prix during Labor Day weekend have jumped at an opportunity to watch the city’s big auto race from the air-conditioned comfort of mobile hospitality suites.” Organizers of the IndyCar Series race weekend “have sold four of these street-level versions of sky boxes and are looking to track down more to meet demand.” The mobile suites “give 50 to 100 people privacy and a view from an upper deck, lower deck, covered patio or an indoor suite for as much as $100,000.” The Baltimore Grand Prix “already has leased two 50-person suites, equipped with high-definition TVs, a kitchenette, and a bathroom for guests, for more than $60,000 each” (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/25 issue).

ANNUAL LOSS: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Paul Bond reported Live Nation “lost $228 million in 2010 -- compared with $60 million a year ago.” The company yesterday said that its annual loss “nearly tripled as concert attendance dropped.” While the Live Nation “sold 11.4 million tickets to family events in 2010, slightly up from 2009, it lost ground in the other big categories.” Ticket sales to concerts “were off 10 percent to 63.4 million, sports tickets were down 1 percent to 22.1 million and the arts and theater category decreased 12 percent to 18.6 million” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 2/28).