NFL Considering Moving Draft, AEG To Pitch For L.A. To Host
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AEG has had "preliminary discussions" with the NFL about hosting the '09 NFL Draft at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, according to Sam Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. The league's two-year contract with Radio City Music Hall in N.Y. expired after this past weekend's draft. AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke: "We think it would be phenomenal in L.A. and we're prepared to do whatever it takes to get it here." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently admitted he was considering moving the event out of N.Y. Goodell: "There seems to be a great deal of interest from various cities to do it. We think Radio City has been terrific, and obviously being in the media capital is a terrific thing for us, but it is something that we continue to evaluate, and we haven't come to any conclusion on it." Leiweke said that he intends to "put together an economic package that would involve AEG and the city of Los Angeles that's 'not any different than what we do with the Grammys and the X Games.'" Leiweke added that no formal discussions have been held, but AEG "has cleared the Nokia Theatre schedule in late April 2009 to accommodate the draft." Leiweke noted that there is room for the NFL Experience fan event "at L.A. Live's 40,000 square-foot plaza or in the convention center across the street." Leiweke: "If you think about it, for the NFL, is there a better site? It's neutral. The ESPN facilities and studios are right across the street and will be online and broadcasting at that time. We've got 7,100 seats, so we've got a bigger facility than the one they're in today. We have all of the infrastructure around it" (L.A. TIMES, 5/2).
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