The NFL plans to "soon begin talks with existing stadiums" in the L.A. area in an effort to "provide temporary housing for any team or teams that might relocate there," according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA TODAY. The league would "handle such negotiations and then assign the lease to any relocated teams." If two teams relocate at the same time, the league "might need to find two temporary venues to accommodate existing stadium schedules and restrictions." The "leading candidates" are the Rose Bowl and L.A. Memorial Coliseum, though the NFL also "plans to talk with other venues that could serve as temporary homes while a new permanent stadium is being built in the meantime -- probably for a two- or three-year period." A California appellate court recently "removed a legal obstacle that could have gotten in the way of the Rose Bowl's candidacy as a temporary NFL home." A neighborhood group had "challenged that possibility because of environmental concerns and had threatened to seek an injunction if the NFL tried to play there while that litigation was pending," but the court "sided with the city of Pasadena." Rose Bowl Operating Company CEO & GM Darryl Dunn said, "We're aware of the potential opportunity and the interest. ... I can't look in the crystal ball here and say we're going to start having serious negotiations. At this point, those have not yet occurred. That doesn't mean they won't. We'll see." Officials from USC, which controls the Coliseum, said that they "would review a proposal from the NFL if they received one" (USA TODAY, 6/12).
DUE DILIGENCE: In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz writes, "One thing being overlooked by the 'Rams are Gone' soothsayers is the composition of the NFL's 'LA Opportunities' Committee." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "selected the six owners to oversee the process because he respects them, trusts them, and believes they have a 'league-first' conscience." Miklasz: "If someone asked me to pick six NFL owners that would give St. Louis a fair shake in this difficult and controversial relocation process, I'd be inclined to choose the six men that are on the committee." The committee is comprised of Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt, Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, Giants President & CEO John Mara, Texans Owner Bob McNair, Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson and Steelers President Art Rooney II. Miklasz writes they are "strong 'league' men who take NFL matters seriously" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/12).
