SBJ/SBD's IMG World Congress of Sports wrapped up yesterday at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, in Dana Point, Calif. The program was followed by the evening presentation of the '12 Forty Under 40 awards. The final World Congress panel examined the NFL's long-awaited return to L.A., which appears more imminent than ever after AEG signed Farmers Insurance to a stadium naming-rights deal in August '11.
L. A. Sports Council President David Simon said, “I think in those first few years after Georgia Frontiere and Al Davis picked up stakes, both the NFL and Los Angeles found that they could live without each other.” The L.A. Times' Sam Farmer: “One of the questions that has gone on, back and forth, is does L.A. need the NFL more or does the NFL need L.A. more? And I think the real question is does either side really need the other?” Premier Partnerships Chair Alan Rothenberg: "This derby that’s going on, this auction that’s going on, with respect to who buys the Dodgers, could have a huge effect. ... Now suddenly it’s not just (Ed) Roski, it’s not just AEG, but it’s Mr. X, the new owner of the Dodgers, and it stirs the pot even more."
For more from the conference, see today's issue of THE DAILY. Also, see a full agenda, follow the event on our blog and get updates via the SBJ/SBD Twitter feed.
