News of the Arroyo


Title:

Pasadena Heritage takes on the NFL

Subtitle:

Date:

2003-03-02

Summary:

March 2 -- Pasadena Heritage opposes the initial renovation plans for the Rose Bowl that are part of the aging stadium's bid to win an NFL team.

Author:

Gary Scott

Publication:

Pasadena Star News

Content:

Rose Bowl renovation not exactly an end run


PASADENA -- As the city ponders inviting the NFL into its hallowed
but aging Rose Bowl, preservationists say they oppose initial
renovation plans and want a more open discussion about how
professional football might affect the community.

In a letter sent to the Rose Bowl Operating Co. on Jan. 30, Pasadena
Heritage officials said the future of the stadium, the Arroyo Seco
and Pasadena itself are at a ``major crossroads.\'\'

They ask for ``full disclosure\'\' of the preliminary architectural and
financial plans being devel oped to entice the NFL to the stadium,
and recommend the RBOC or City Council hold a public forum to discuss
the issues.

Pasadena Heritage\'s advocacy committee was given the chance to review
conceptual design plans to make the 81-year- old stadium accommodate
professional football. The plans have been shared with the mayor and
at least one other council member, but have not been made public.

``It seems clear that the Rose Bowl would not survive in any visible
or recognizable way were an NFL project to proceed,\'\' writes Susan
Mossman, Pasadena Heritage\'s executive director, and Jim Crawford,
chairman of the group\'s advocacy committee.

``The financial well-being of the Rose Bowl facility is important,
but so are impacts to the Arroyo as Pasadena\'s largest public park,
the status of the National Historic Landmark, the viability of the
golf course and livability in surrounding historic neighborhoods.\'\'

Speaking Tuesday, Mossman said that all of the design plans she saw
would ruin the Rose Bowl\'s historic character. Even an option that
would lower the football field 20 or 30 feet leaves ``holes in it and
stuff piled on top of it.\'\'

``The end result would still be you would never know the Rose Bowl
was there,\'\' said Mossman.

When asked if the designs had changed since Pasadena Heritage
reviewed them, Darryl Dunn, RBOC general manager, reiterated the
plans were ``concepts.\'\'

``The architects are working with our historic preservation
consultant,\'\' Historic Resources Group of Los Angeles, Dunn said.
``We\'re not ready yet to show the concepts (to the public) until we
answer a few questions internally.\'\'

Bill Thomson, RBOC board member and chairman of its tenant search
committee, said he understands Pasadena Heritage\'s concerns. ``A lot
of consideration\'\' is being given to preserving both the stadium\'s
historic character and maintaining its ``beautiful setting\'\' in the
Arroyo Seco, he said.

``We may come to a position where we are not able to satisfy totally
their concerns, but I am confident they will agree at the end of the
day that we ... did as much as we could to preserve as much of the
Rose Bowl as\'\' possible, said Thomson. ``Everyone understands the
real goal is to preserve the Rose Bowl for generations to come as a
viable football and soccer stadium.\'\'

Renovating the stadium could cost $400 million or more, Thomson said.
Because the city is not planning to invest public funds in the
project, there remains an issue of what the NFL will want in return
for making such a large investment.

It could mean giving up some control over the city-owned stadium,
said Mayor Bill Bogaard. The city must keep in mind the needs of
major stakeholders, mainly the Tournament of Roses and UCLA, when
considering a deal, he said.

``At some point in the foreseeable future, whether 30 days or 90
days, the NFL is expected to deliver back to us some proposal for a
lease and corresponding economic terms,\'\' said Bogaard. ``That will
be the starting point for some pretty careful analysis.\'\'

The RBOC will hold a meeting Thursday at the Rose Bowl to discuss
progress on a possible NFL deal. Reports will given on architectural
design and preservation efforts, community outreach and a planned
environmental impact report.

-- Gary Scott can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4458, or by e-
mail at gary.scott@sgvn.com.


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