Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani said the team is "not pursuing any stadium options in downtown Los Angeles" in the wake of AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke Thursday saying that he has spoken with the Chargers, Vikings, Raiders, Rams and Jaguars about potentially moving to L.A., according to Scott Bair of the NORTH COUNTY TIMES. Fabiani said, "Our focus remains where it has been for the last nine years: finding a publicly acceptable solution somewhere here in the San Diego region, with a particular focus at this time on the downtown San Diego combination stadium-convention center site." Fabiani confirmed that Chargers officials "have spoken with AEG officials, but said the L.A. stadium project wasn't discussed." Fabiani: "The Chargers have emphasized publicly since the start of 2010 that we have a longstanding business relationship with AEG and Tim Leiweke -- the team has retained AEG to help sell its premium products in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. As a result, we speak with both AEG executives and Tim regularly, and we are certainly well aware of what they are trying to accomplish in downtown Los Angeles." He added Chargers Owner the Spanos family "has never contemplated -- and will not contemplate -- selling a majority stake in the team." Fabiani: "If AEG is seeking a majority stake in a team, it would probably be best for AEG to cross the Chargers off its wish list" (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 6/11). Fabiani added the "significant development, No. 1, is that there's a much slower process in L.A. than they thought." Meanwhile, in San Diego, Nick Canepa reports there are "whispers the San Diego group is in prenatal talks with a naming rights sponsor" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/13). In N.Y., Gary Myers wrote the Chargers make the "most sense to move." Qualcomm Stadium "is a dump and they've been unable to get a new one" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/12).
MORE DENIALS: Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley on Friday said the organization remains "100 percent committed to getting a stadium deal done in Minnesota." Bagley: "While it's true we have been approached by (Los Angeles area) stadium groups AEG and Roski in the past, we think we're in a position to get our issue resolved during the special session in Minnesota." Bagley said that the Vikings "have not had talks with Leiweke since a meeting in late May, when the team discussed the subject of stadium operations and a potential sports entertainment complex near the Vikings' proposed stadium in Arden Hills" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/11). In St. Paul, Tom Powers wrote Leiweke's comments were "lifted directly from the 'How to Get a Stadium Built in a Hostile Environment' handbook." Powers: "Can you imagine two private companies having a business meeting about a relocation and then making details of that meeting public? Well, only if both sides agree to make it public. So rest assured Zygi Wilf and the entire Wilf family knew full well that Leiweke was going to spill the beans" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/11). In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman wrote Leiweke's "big interest in visiting with Vikings owners is to get to manage the Ramsey County stadium if it comes through, just like AEG is involved with Target Center" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/12).
QUEST FOR LEVERAGE: In St. Louis, Bill Coats noted under the Rams' lease, the team "could be free to leave St. Louis after the 2014 season if stadium upgrades aren't completed." But Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said Owner Stan Kroenke "has made it perfectly clear that he's focused on working on a new lease with the city of St. Louis." Demoff: "He's been consistent in that viewpoint since becoming the controlling owner last August" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/11). ESPN.com's Mike Sando wrote Kroenke "has no reason to discourage Los Angeles' interest." Having L.A. as a "potential option gives the Rams leverage with St. Louis as they seek an improved stadium situation for the long term" (ESPN.com, 6/11). In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz wrote, "I understand Kroenke's desire to have leverage, and that's why he won't shoot down or discourage the LA speculation. ... I just hope Kroenke doesn't take it too far, or he will squander and destroy the goodwill of his fellow Missourians in the Show Me State" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/12).
DOESN'T STOP AT FIVE: NFL.com's Albert Breer cited an AEG source as saying that the group "is actually in contact with more than the five teams cited by Leiweke." Because of the "lack of a slam-dunk candidate, AEG is casting a wide net that expands beyond those five teams." The teams are "getting monthly briefings from AEG on the progress of the downtown project" (NFL.com, 6/11). The Raiders were one of the teams mentioned in the inital report, but Chief Exec Amy Trask in a statement said, "The team is not for sale. It will remain with the Davis family" (SFGATE.com, 6/10). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote, "Can we just accept these occasional warning flares from all parties interested in bringing NFL football to L.A. for what it is -- grandstanding?" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 6/10).
NET GAIN: In L.A., Vincent Bonsignore wrote under the header, "New NFL Stadium Would Benefit Los Angeles, Not Hurt It." Leiweke and AEG Chair Phil Anschutz are cast as "nothing more than money-grubbing boogey men scheming and plotting ways to pillage our great city of every last cent, never once considering they are just smart businessmen presenting us with a project mutually beneficial to them and us." Bonsignore: "Businessmen with a successful track record after transforming downtown from a dead end to a destination point with the additions of Staples Center and L.A. Live." Bonsignore added, "When we finally push them out the door, we pat ourselves on the back, satisfied we saved the city. ... Meanwhile, thousands of jobs fall by the wayside and the Convention Center still needs to be renovated, with the joke being a city as grand as Los Angeles doesn't even register in the top 15 in convention business" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/12).
