PASADENA, Calif. -- City Council members have unanimously approved a
three-year business plan aimed at wooing an NFL team to the Rose Bowl,
which has hosted five Super Bowls.
"We also recognize that the NFL at some point will come back to
Los Angeles. It's not a question of if, but really when and under what
terms," Councilman Paul Little said Monday. "It's in the
best interests of the city and the Rose Bowl for us to at least make
an effort to have that be on our terms."
The Rose Bowl Operating Co. told council members that a professional
football franchise in a renovated stadium is the best way to ensure
that the 80-year-old landmark remains viable. The nonprofit group
operates the stadium and golf course, and posted a net profit of $1.3
million in the last fiscal year that ended June 30.
"If it is not us who attracts an NFL team, it will be someone
else with a new stadium, and that stadium, rest assured, will take all
our tenants," Councilman Victor Gordo said. "That would have
a severe impact on Pasadena's economy. We'd be negligent not to pursue
an NFL team."
Officials did not name any teams they would try to attract, but
possibilities include cities whose stadium leases have expired or will
soon expire, such as the San Diego Chargers. The NFL has been without
a franchise in the Los Angeles area since the Rams and Raiders left
after the 1994 season and efforts to expand lost out to Houston, which
will begin play next season as the NFL's 32nd team.
The league has no plans to expand in the near future.
"We were told that if the Rose Bowl can be renovated into a
state-of-the-art stadium, they feel that teams would be delighted to
come here and play," said Bill Thomson, a member of the
nonprofit's board.
The three-year plan already has its detractors.
"How do you insulate the Arroyo (Seco) neighborhood from trash
and air pollution caused by an estimated 200,000 additional cars a
year?" asked Norm Parker, president of the Linda Vista Annandale
Association. "What deep pockets will pay for the wear and tear of
parklands caused by an estimated 2 million additional visits between
August and December each year?"
The 92,000-seat Rose Bowl, which hosts UCLA football games, and the
annual Rose Bowl college football game, will lose $500,000 annually
once the Galaxy, a Major League Soccer team, moves to Carson next
year.