http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3453430 NFL reaches preliminary agreement to return to L.A. Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The NFL and city officials have reached a preliminary agreement on terms to bring a team back to the Los Angeles Coliseum. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue made the announcement today on the steps of City Hall. But he didn't identify a send potential tenant or speculate when Los Angeles might get the team. He also spoke positively about a team playing at a facility proposed for the Angel Stadium parking lot in Anaheim and didn't rule out the Rose Bowl in Pasadena as a possible home field, either. As Tagliabue entered a limousine, he was asked if he could assess the significance of what he had just announced. He replied, "I'd rather not try." The commissioner did say: "It's the first time we've had agreement on term sheets. We're one step closer, two or three steps closer. Whether it's 2009, 2010, or 2000-whatever, our goal is to have definitive agreements on all subject matters well before our league meetings in March." The Los Angeles area, the second-largest television market in the country, has been without an NFL team since the Raiders moved from the Coliseum back to Oakland and the Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis before the 1995 season. After announcing plans in the spring of 1999 to put an expansion team in the Coliseum, the NFL was unable to reach an agreement with the Los Angeles backers and instead awarded the 32nd franchise to Houston that October. Houston businessman Bob McNair and his backers offered to pay $700 million for the new franchise and spend another $310 million on a stadium, making it the NFL's first billion-dollar deal. The Texans began play in 2002. Tagliabue said significant progress has been made in the past year regarding the Coliseum. His statement came following a meeting with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and before a session with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. "I think the critical thing now is we're at the point where it's recognized, certainly by us, that the time is right," Tagliabue said. "We have to get agreements finalized. We'll be pursuing agreements in Anaheim. We're going to work with both communities for an agreement." He said there have been no in-depth discussions on whether the region would get an expansion or existing team. Tagliabue said last month that future expansion was unlikely anywhere but Los Angeles. He also said it was important to make sure Southern California, the nation's top-ranked college team, was comfortable with any agreement, since the Trojans have made the Coliseum their home since 1923. Tagliabue planned on meeting with USC coach Pete Carroll later Thursday. The commissioner met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzennegger tonight. Tentative plans call for the NFL to finance construction of a $500 million stadium inside the Coliseum, home to the Rams from 1946-79 and the Raiders from 1982-94. City Councilman Bernard Parks said after listening to Tagliabue that he believes the Coliseum will eventually get an existing team rather than an expansion team. "The NFL is going to have a say on who's going to come here. The Coliseum has no role in selecting a team," Parks said. Asked when it might happen, Parks replied: "I don't know. Nobody's signed anything. They've got to say they're coming." That being said, Parks expressed optimism. "In my judgment, I don't believe these business people waste their time and money," he said. "They've spent a lot of time and money." While Tagliabue didn't rule out the Rose Bowl, the Pasadena City Council voted 5-2 with one abstention last June to pursue a plan for the stadium that doesn't involve the NFL. Carson dropped out of contention in May when city officials decided to build a mall on its proposed site.
Well which team will it be. I don't think it will be an expansion team and neither do officials, so which team do you guys think have the best shot at moving there? I would say the Cardinals but they have a new stadium being built already.
LOL, the NFL is going to get a team in LA if it's the last thing they do. The people in LA don't even want a team! Too bad. They're getting one whether they like it or not!
Las Vegas Oddsmakers while unsure of what team will inhabit the LA Coliseum have nonetheless installed them as 13 point favorites over the Texans.
I'd say it is the Saints. I know no one wants to offend the good people of Louisiana, but Louisiana has no business have sports franchises at this point. New Orleans is in ruin and it will be decades before it ever gets close to its former population. Maybe New Orleans can support basketball, it at the most will be one sport town. Nice try San Antonio, but Taligabue wants a team in Los Angeles.
At least the Saints have an out - the Superdome will have to be rebuilt. The Hornets are screwed. Lets see, OKC or post Katrina NO?...tough choice. Not. Too bad the NO Arena will be operating by March.
Why not have both teams? Inside the Beltway will be for the Texans, outside the Beltway will be for the Saints.
I heard a rumor that the Jacksonville Jags were withholding a 2 million dollar payment to the City of Jacksonville and there seems to be rapidly waning support for the team even though they are probably going to make the playoffs. Winning solves everything but right now I'm hearing the Jags are the best bet for LA. (my rumor is at least third hand but.....)
The only reason they want to be in L.A. is T.V. money, yet they already have probably the most lucrative T.V. contracts in all of sports. So what's the point of shoving a team down that city's throat when they are already making a crap load. I guess there's always room for more.
i've heard that NFL officials are just so baffled that the entertainment capital of the US doesn't care if they're there or not. it's so unbelievable to them, that they can't grasp it. and they act otherwise.
Yeah I do not know how I completely forgot about them and their situation. It'll probably be the Saints.
Los Angeles Vikings The Vikings have been trying to get a new stadium for over ten years and the MN Legislature has consistently turned them down. The Vikings have threatened to move before but are locked into a deal with the Metrodome. The new owner Ziggy Wilf has said that he wants to keep the Vikings here in MN but he's lobbying hard for a stadium to be built in one of the suburbs and so far the legislature and a majority of both parties are resistant to any stadiums along with most of Minnesota. Given the timeline that Tagliabue laid out I wouldn't be surprised if one of the options is to wait for the Vikings lease to expire in 2011 and if there isn'a new Vikings stadium built by then moving the Vikes to LA. At least they would be joining the Lakers as former Minnesota teams in SoCal.
What ever they do, they should build the stadium to hold 35,000 people tops and make the ticket prices outrageous. That way it is in elite thing to get a seat and every game will be a sellout. Otherwise, you will be hearing in 2020 how the LA team is leaving because they have no support.
