The L.A. City Council Economic Development Committee on Friday "agreed that AEG should be given additional time to try and land an NFL team" for its proposed $1B Farmers Field project, "even as the city continues to look at possibilities for improving and expanding the Convention Center" in downtown, according to Rick Orlov of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. The committee recommended that the agreement with AEG "be extended for at least six months and possibly a year." Meanwhile, three architectural firms will be "submitting their visions" for the L.A. Convention Center. AEG "has agreed to provide $750,000 to fund the work and an analysis of the proposals" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/11). In Boston, Ben Volin wrote it is "pretty clear that the NFL will be back" in L.A. "sooner rather than later." What "is clear is the NFL is ready to get creative," as the league is "considering a plan to build and own the stadium itself, in part as a lure to a potential owner to come to LA debt-free." The league "envisions LA becoming 'NFL West' -- the NFL Network already is based there, and the stadium could be used for Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, the draft, and other events" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/12).
FORCING IT? In L.A., Kerry Cavanaugh wrote nobody "is stopping to ask if L.A. still wants or needs a stadium or a fancy new convention center." Downtown "continues to grow as a residential, commercial and entertainment destination, and attract investors." Cavanaugh: "Is downtown still a good fit for a football stadium?" L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council "continue to have an unhealthy fixation on the fact that the nation’s second largest city doesn’t have a professional football team or a 'world-class convention center,' whatever that means" (L.A. TIMES, 10/11).
SCOUTING SITES: CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask said, "[Majestic Realty Chair & CEO] Ed Roski's site, in the city of industry is a magnificent site, and it is shovel ready. I have heard for years, from men at the league office, that it’s too far away from the central part of Los Angeles. And I would note in that regard, as I noted to them, that Jets fans, Giants fans and Patriots fans are driving further to get to their stadiums than fans would drive to get to Roski’s stadium. So I think that's a tremendous site. AEG has a site downtown. It's got the logistical challenges associated with being downtown. Hollywood Park is a terrific, terrific site. It’s one we looked at very, very hard while I was with the Raiders. ... I'm lukewarm on Carson and Chavez Ravine. ... That site is just fraught with challenges. As I like to remind people at the league office, not everyone gets a police escort or takes a helicopter to a game. Dodgers Stadium would be rough. … Interestingly, a name that I hear popping up more and more in a variety of contexts and locations throughout Los Angeles, is [CAA co-Founder] Michael Ovitz. And his name is popping up because he seems to want to be very involved with the movement of a team back into this market" ("That Other Pregame Show," CBSSN, 10/12).
