Two groups from L.A. and one from Houston made one-hour
presentations to NFL owners at yesterday's league meetings
in K.C., and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said that they
"should know by April which one will get the 32nd NFL
franchise," according to John Williams of the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE. Houston's Bob McNair and L.A.'s Michael Ovitz
"said they need to know" by the first quarter of '99, as any
delay "could kill their deals because of financial concerns
in building" a stadium. NHL Kings co-Owner Ed Roski, the
other L.A. bidder, "said he is under no time restraints."
Tagliabue "anticipates" a special owners meeting after New
Year's to discuss when to expand and the three bid groups.
Tagliabue: "We are well aware of the time pressure, and we
will be responsive" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28). One NFL
insider "dismissed" Ovitz and McNair's timetables, calling
it "gamesmanship," adding that as long as the league "shows
it is making progress toward a resolution," neither will
issue any "drop-dead dates" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/28).
FROM THE TOP: Tagliabue: "I thought the presentations
were extremely well done. But we expected that, frankly"
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/28). Tagliabue, on his feeling
between Houston and L.A.: "One of the things we're going to
be discussing is the relationship of television to this
decision. ... One out of six TV households in the country is
in New York, Chicago and L.A., and at a certain point that
has to affect your thinking" (K.C. STAR, 10/28).
L.A. STORY: In L.A., T.J. Simers reports that Roski's
New Coliseum group "unveiled a new Exposition Park-wide
concept that would include a permanent home for the Grammy
Awards and a music museum alongside the football stadium."
The Landmark Entertainment Group, which created Universal
Studios' "Jurassic Park" ride, showed the owners a complete
layout of the complex. Several owners said that the "major
difference in the Coliseum presentation was in its stadium
design" by L.A.-based NBBJ. The 68,000-seat stadium would
have 15,000 premier seats and 156 suites. Ovitz told owners
that his Carson, CA, financing plan includes $50M in
projected PSLs, average premium seat prices of $70 and
suites at $90,000 -- $30,000 shy of the Coliseum price.
Ovitz also plans to earn an additional $50M in a naming
rights deal (L.A. TIMES, 10/28). Ovitz, on the owners: "We
had their attention, I believe it is fair to say, for the
entire hour we were in there." Roski said it was "hard to
tell" how his group's presentation was received by the
owners (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/28). Ovitz: "We can't sit on
the project for three years" (PRESS-TELEGRAM, 10/28).
Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, on the L.A. proposals:
"They've come a long way" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/28).
HOWDY HOUSTON: McNair's presentation featured a 69,500-
seat retractable-roof stadium next to the Astrodome, with
taxes in place to support it. McNair: "We have the money to
build it and we're ready to start, and I think we're the
only one who can say that." Several NFL owners said that
they "were impressed" with the $195M of public funding in
Houston. When McNair's video presentation failed to start
on time, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority Chair Jack
Rains told the owners, "We're not Hollywood." Houston
"tried to counter the Hollywood angle" that the L.A. groups
pitched, by making what Rains called "a meat and potatoes"
presentation (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28). Oilers Owner Bud
Adams, on Houston's presentation: "I would support Houston
if the timetable's right. Of course, I'd support Houston
over Los Angeles" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28).
TV OR NOT TV: Ovitz argued that L.A. being the No. 2 TV
market should influence the NFL's decision: "For any film or
TV program to succeed, you have to have it succeed in New
York, Los Angeles and Chicago" (DAILY VARIETY, 10/28). But
McNair said, "All you have to do is look at the last two
franchises that were granted. How big are the Jacksonville
and Charlotte markets?" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28).
PLAN B: If Houston is not awarded a team, McNair said
that he "would be interested in buying" the Redskins.
McNair could buy the team and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium for
less than an expansion team will cost, but he "would not
attempt to move the Redskins to Houston if he were to buy
them" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28). McNair was among those
sent a confidential memo regarding Redskins finances by
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (WASHINGTON POST, 10/28).
AND TORONTO? Acting CFL Commissioner John Tory, on the
NFL's interest in Toronto: "I've seen no indication in any
of the discussions that I've had with them [the NFL] that
they are planning an entry into [Canada]" (CP, 10/28).
