In a "rare" unanimous 8-0 vote, the L.A. Coliseum
Commission approved a two-year contract with NHL Kings co-
Owner Ed Roski and his New Coliseum Ventures "to negotiate
with the NFL to win either an expansion team or have an
existing team relocate" to L.A., according to Rick Orlov of
the L.A. DAILY NEWS. Commission President Mike Ross: "This
is telling the NFL that we are serious about our commitment
to have football return to this great facility." Roski will
make his Coliseum presentation Tuesday at the league's
owners meetings in K.C. Roski, on competing with fellow-
bidder Michael Ovitz: "We are friends. I would like to see
him join us, but I don't think that will happen as long as
he's advancing his proposal." Roski has assembled a 30-
member delegation to accompany him to K.C., including reps
of his architectural firm, NBBJ, and city and county
officials. Orlov writes that one "drawback" in Roski's
plans that developed Wednesday was "word" that L.A. Mayor
Richard Riordan would not attend the NFL meetings due to a
scheduling conflict. Riordan will instead make a videotaped
speech backing the proposal (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/22).
DETAILS: As part of the Coliseum deal, Roski and
partners will have two years to land an NFL expansion team
or an existing team. Though the Coliseum Commission "will
retain the right to talk with teams that approach it about
moving," the Roski group "would be entitled to repayment of
up to" $5M for its costs (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/22).
