The L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission will hold a
conference today to "educate the media" about the return of
the NFL to the city and the future of the Coliseum project,
according T.J. Simers of the L.A. TIMES. Simers writes the
Commission has raised more than $50,000 in sponsorship of
the event, including $10,000 from Times Mirror Corp. In
examining the open L.A. market, Simers writes that the NFL
"failed" in L.A. "because of poor ownership, but now the
prevailing attitude is let the person with the most money
assume command once again -- making it no guarantee that
another Georgia Frontiere or Al Davis won't surface."
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones suggested that "unfulfilled"
Browns bidders may turn to L.A. after bidding for the
Cleveland franchise is concluded. Jones: "Look out, Los
Angeles. Don't count out the ones that aren't successful in
Cleveland not wanting to take a look in Los Angeles."
Simers: "More than that, Jones said, the future of L.A. and
Houston might now be tied to Oakland, and if that doesn't
bring a gasp, there is a very real possibility in the minds
of some that the NFL might have no choice but to let the
Raiders return to Los Angeles." Jones: "It should not be
dismissed." Simers adds that "there is great concern within
NFL circles that Davis is headed for another legal triumph
in his lawsuit against the league, which includes the charge
that the NFL sabotaged his Hollywood Park deal to remain in
L.A. before moving to Oakland. The best way to avoid costly
damages, suggest some, is having Davis drop his legal action
in exchange" for a free return to L.A. (L.A. TIMES, 7/30).
IRVINE GROUP: L.A.-based Southern California Sports
Group (SCSG) has been selected by the Irvine (CA) City
Council to "temporarily negotiate" with the NFL to bring a
team to that city, according to Luna & Alcala of the ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER. SCSG, which includes former USC RB Anthony
Davis, has offered to put up $500M to help Irvine finance an
NFL stadium, but the group wanted to purchase city property
and develop the site. Irvine Mayor Christina Shea said that
the city "was not ready to approve" such a deal. But the
council will let SCSG represent Irvine in talks with the
league, and Shea said that if SCSG is successful in piquing
the NFL's interest, the city "would consider hiring the
group exclusively" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/29).