News of the Arroyo
Title: | Coliseum a thorn in Rose Bowl's NFL bid? |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2003-05-07 |
Summary: | May 7, 2003 - Could the Los Angeles Coliseum derail Rose Bowl plans to host a National Football League franchise? Local officals say they are unconcerned, but there is no doubt that the LA bid turns up the heat. |
Author: | Gary Scott, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | PASADENA -- Pasadena officials Tuesday downplayed news that Los Angeles is reviving a plan to lure the National Football League to the Memorial Coliseum, saying they remain focused on crafting the best proposal for the Rose Bowl. \"It\'s like a horse race. You don\'t focus on the other horses, you just focus on trying to get to the finish line,\' said Darryl Dunn, Rose Bowl general manager. \"I don\'t place much significance on Los Angeles suddenly trying to get back into the picture,\' said Bill Thomson, chairman of the Rose Bowl Operating Co.\'s tenant recruitment committee. \"I don\'t know that it makes a whole lot of difference,\' added Councilman Paul Little. Thomson, however, criticized L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry for saying Pasadena could cause problems for the NFL. She said residents have a strong \"not-in-my-back yard\' attitude that may surprise league officials. \"Members of the Los Angeles City Council should focus on their own constituents and not forecast what is going to happen with citizens in Pasadena,\' Thomson said. On Monday, the L.A. City Council\'s Ad Hoc Stadium Committee voted to back the Coliseum as its choice for NFL\'s return to the Los Angeles-area market. The full council is expected to hear the matter Tuesday. \"The Coliseum is the best site for football in L.A.,\' said Bernard Parks Jr., spokesman for Councilman Bernard Parks, the former police chief. \"Other efforts in the past have failed because there were multiple deals and multiple proposals going on in Los Angeles.\' David Carter, who authored a report this year for the L.A. Community Redevelopment Agency outlining preferred stadium sites for the downtown, said the Coliseum proposal sounds a lot like ones that have failed in the past. \"It\'s a little bit of \'Groundhog Day\' with a few new faces,\' Carter said. His Redondo Beach firm, Sports Business Group, has done marketing and consulting for the Rose Bowl. The committee\'s vote Monday was likely a response to the progress Pasadena has made drafting its own proposal in preparation for the NFL owners\' meeting May 20-21, Carter said. \"They want to remind the powers that be that this isn\'t going to be a one-horse race.\' The Pasadena City Council held a closed session Monday evening to discuss a proposed lease of the stadium to the NFL. The meeting lasted past midnight, according to Councilman Victor Gordo. \"Whether it\'s L.A. or Compton or Riverside or Inglewood, I don\'t think we as a city should be focused on anyone\'s efforts but our own,\' Gordo said. \"The Rose Bowl is America\'s stadium. Why wouldn\'t the NFL want to be in America\'s stadium?\' Meanwhile, NFL officials remain coy about the cities courting its favor. Greg Aiello, vice president of communications, said the agenda for the May owners\' meeting doesn\'t include anything about returning professional football to the Los Angeles-area market. Aiello did acknowledge that the league has heard in recent weeks from Pasadena representatives, as well as those supporting a stadium in Carson. Pasadena representatives remain hopeful they an invitation will be forthcoming. Councilman Steve Madison, who attended the last owners\' meeting in Florida on the Rose Bowl\'s behalf, said Monday that he has kept the dates open on his calendar. Staff writer Gene Maddaus contributed to this story. Gary Scott can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4458, or by e-mail at gary.scott@sgvn.com . |
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