News of the Arroyo
Title: | No NFL team for Rose Bowl |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2005-06-07 |
Summary: | June 7, 2005 - "Madison's opposition effectively kills deal" - The Pasadena City Council backed away from pursuing a professional football franchise for the Rose Bowl and instead instructed city officials to explore Plan B, some other approach to making the aging stadium viable. |
Author: | Gene Maddaus, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - PASADENA -- Councilman Steve Madison came out against bringing an NFL team to the Rose Bowl on Monday night, effectively ending the prospects of professional football at the stadium. Madison, who faced a threat of a recall from angry constituents who opposed the NFL, announced that he had decided against the deal after a long analysis. \"This decision isn\'t even close,\" he said. \"I am not going to be able to support the NFL at the Rose Bowl.\" In providing a fourth council voice against the NFL, Madison\'s decision appeared to put the NFL proposal to rest. Councilman Chris Holden and Councilwoman Joyce Streator, the two strongest NFL supporters, conceded defeat. \"We do not have the votes to pursue the NFL and any prospects of them playing at the Rose Bowl,\" Streator said. Madison\'s decision came as a surprise to supporters and opponents alike, who had tentatively put Madison in the pro-NFL column. \"I am thrilled, ecstatic, and I praise Steve for sorting it out the right way,\" said Sue Mossman, executive director of Pasadena Heritage. Robin Salzer, an NFL supporter, said he was \"extremely disappointed.\" The decision on Monday night rested with three swing voters -- Councilmen Victor Gordo, Paul Little and Madison. Gordo and Little each indicated that they were not prepared to support the NFL terms on Monday night. But both also said they wished to keep talking with the league, in hopes of drawing out further concessions from the NFL owners. The prospect of a further delay raised concerns on both sides of the issue. NFL supporters argued that the city\'s negotiating position would be weakened without clear direction from the City Council. NFL opponents urged an end to the drawn-out battle over professional football in the Arroyo Seco. \"We don\'t need the NFL. We don\'t want the NFL,\" said Cheryl Auger, vice president of the West Pasadena Residents\' Association. \"Don\'t delay the vote. We need to move on to Plan B.\" Councilman Steve Haderlein suggested the council should turn its focus to alternatives to the NFL. The councilman argued that the city should come back in six months with a comprehensive study of other options to preserve the Rose Bowl. The stadium loses about $2 million annually, which is covered by subsidies from Brookside Golf Course. The city\'s finance director, Jay Goldstone, issued a memo Friday stating that the NFL deal would bring $133 million in taxes, rent and cost savings to the city over the life of the 25-year lease. The projection was based on the city\'s negotiating position, Goldstone said. The city was believed to be asking at least $1 million in annual rent from the NFL. But a source close to the negotiations said the NFL had offered less than $325,000 in annual rent. The difference was thought to have led some council members who were initially in favor of the deal to have second thoughts. Opponents have argued that the NFL would bring too much traffic, will displace park users from the Arroyo Seco, and will threaten the Rose Bowl\'s historic status. They also said that the financial benefits to the city have been vastly overstated, and warned about the NFL\'s bruising business tactics. -- Gene Maddaus can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4444, or by e-mail at gene.maddaus@sgvn.com. |
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