News of the Arroyo
Title: | EIR stalls while plan for Bowl modified |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2004-03-11 |
Summary: | March 11, 2004 - Plans for the NFL in the Rose Bowl are changing dramatically as architects are told to go back to the drawing boards. The NFL is uncomfortable with plans to put 800,000 square feet of commercial space underground and want to change that to save money and time. But what does that mean for the Arroyo Seco??? |
Author: | Gary Scott, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | NFL wants underground construction minimized PASADENA -- The city has put the environmental study for the $500 million Rose Bowl renovation plan on hold while architects modify the design to meet National Football League demands. According to city officials, the NFL has criticized the plan to build 800,000 square feet of additional space below ground as too expensive and wants to reposition the club seats to make them more desirable to ticket buyers. Kansas City-based HOK, which created the original design, has been asked to go back to the drawing board and try to incorporate the NFL\'s demands without compromising the city\'s goal of retaining the 82-year-old stadium\'s historic status. City officials were quick to point out that the NFL\'s request has not hurt negotiations. \"This is not the least bit political in nature right now, it\'s very technical and very complicated,\' said John Moag, the sports broker hired to lead the city\'s bid for an NFL team at the Rose Bowl. \"No one has really ever taken a stadium of this age, with the exception of college stadiums, and made it work for modern uses.\' The NFL asked for the modifications within the last few weeks, according to Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn. Moving the club seats could be a major hurdle for the city. The original design calls for placing them at field level, which has the added benefit of keeping the amenities for the club ticket holders bars, restaurants and concessions below ground. City Manager Cynthia Kurtz, who is leading the negotiations for Pasadena, said she still prefers that most of the additional space be underground to protect the character of the Rose Bowl and the Arroyo Seco. Building aboveground has its advantages, however, mostly in the project\'s bottom line. Not only is it expensive to build underground, but digging out the river rock beneath the Arroyo Seco stretches out the construction. The city estimated it would take two years to build the original design. The Friends of the Rose Bowl, a local booster organization made up mostly of wealthy business people from Pasadena, said the changes could lop $100 million off the price. Dunn said it is premature to try and predict the savings until the new design is completed. Shortening the construction schedule would also help the Tournament of Roses and UCLA, both of which would be forced to find another home stadium while the stadium is rebuilt. In the likely event the new design strays substantially from the original, the entire environmental impact report process will have to start over. The NFL originally gave the city 52 weeks to complete the study in order to be reimbursed its costs. The two sides have agreed to stop the clock on the EIR while the new design is completed. Dunn said the city has an obligation to accommodate the NFL\'s demands since the league is being asked to fund the project. \"If it doesn\'t work for them, they aren\'t going to pay for it,\' Dunn said, adding, \"It has to work for Pasadena, too.\" -- Gary Scott can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4458, or by e-mail at gary.scott@sgvn.com . |
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