Morrissey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood SAM FARMER, Roger Vincent January 5, 2015, 3:48 a.m. The owner of the St. Louis Rams plans to build an NFL stadium in Inglewood, which could pave the way for the league's return to Los Angeles. Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who bought 60 acres adjacent to the Forum a year ago, has joined forces with the owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site, Stockbridge Capital Group. They plan to add an 80,000-seat NFL stadium and 6,000-seat performance venue to the already-massive development of retail, office, hotel and residential space, Stockbridge and the Kroenke Group told The Times. The announcement is the latest in more than a dozen stadium proposals that have come and gone in the meandering, two-decade effort to bring an NFL franchise back to the nation's second-largest media market. But Kroenke's move marks the first time an existing team owner has controlled a local site large enough for a stadium and parking. What's more, Kroenke, a billionaire who built his fortune in real estate, has the ability to move quickly. The Rams can choose later this month to convert their lease in St. Louis to year-to-year. The Rams declined comment on any plans to move, but it's no secret that the team is unhappy in the Edward Jones Dome, which is outdated by current NFL standards. Kroenke's Inglewood plans ratchet up pressure on St. Louis to either strike a deal for a new stadium or watch the team return to Southern California, where it played from 1946 to 1994. Under their current deal, the Rams can end their 30-year lease a decade early because they have not reached an agreement with St. Louis officials on improvements to the stadium. The sides remain about $575 million apart. St. Louis is expected to offer the team a new proposal by month's end. The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders are similarly unhappy in old stadiums that don't offer updated amenities. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would not be accepting relocation applications for the 2015 season. So the earliest any team could move would be 2016. Any team that moves could play in a temporary venue, such as the Coliseum or Rose Bowl, until a new stadium is constructed. The Inglewood site Kroenke bought last year is too small for a stadium and parking, but the deal with Stockbridge, the neighboring developer, provides ample space. "We are excited to unveil an expanded plan that will bring a world-class sports and entertainment district to Hollywood Park," Terry Fancher, founder of Stockbridge, said in a statement. "We are committed to working with [the Kroenke Group] to build a project that will put Inglewood back on the map as home of the truly great sports and entertainment venues." The developers said no tax dollars would be used for the construction project, including the stadium. The group plans to begin gathering signatures soon for an initiative that would place the entire project on the Inglewood municipal ballot in 2015. Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said he was "extremely supportive" of the ballot initiative that would add the sports and entertainment complex to the already-approved Hollywood Park development and speed construction. The stadium could be completed by 2018, the developers said. "This will hasten the time for the citizens of Inglewood to get the project they deserve," Butts said. "This is something they have waited for for a long time." The owners are calling the combined Kroenke and Hollywood Park projects the City of Champions Revitalization Project. Wilson Meany, a San Francisco firm, is heading development of the site. Wilson Meany is also developing Bay Meadows, a former horse racing track in San Mateo. The developers want to restore Inglewood to prominence as a sports and entertainment hub. Before Staples Center was built in 1999, Inglewood's Forum was home to the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team and Kings hockey team. The Forum was recently renovated to be a pure music venue. Since the Raiders and Rams left after the 1994 season, the threat of moving to Los Angeles has been used as leverage by NFL teams looking to get stadium deals done in their current cities. In that sense, the region has been more valuable to the league without a team than with one. Because stadiums are so expensive, now routinely topping $1 billion — and because there is no appetite in Los Angeles for public funding — the NFL has a great deal of influence on which team or teams ultimately move into the market. The league can issue loans to help pay for a stadium and award Super Bowls, which are used as a financing mechanism. Any relocation must be approved by a three-quarters majority of team owners. As it stands, Los Angeles has two sites with the legal, political and environmental clearances for NFL venues: the Farmers Field plan downtown and Ed Roski's proposal in City of Industry. The stadium entitlement process, which invariably involves resolving lawsuits filed by people opposed to a given project, typically requires at least a year, thousands of pages of documents, and millions of dollars in legal and consulting fees. The developers of the proposed downtown Los Angeles stadium, entertainment giant AEG, have a few more months to find a football team under an agreement with the city. AEG has vowed to build a stadium called Farmers Field along with a new wing for the city's convention center. The center's obsolete West Hall would be demolished to make way for Farmers Field. AEG, an international sports and music entertainment firm founded by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, owns the Los Angeles Kings and the L.A. Galaxy soccer team. Hollywood Park, through its sheer size, offers a rare opportunity for large-scale development in an urban area, industry observers said. At neary 300 acres, it is about the size of Boston's financial district and twice as big as Vatican City. The developers aim to create a new neighborhood in Inglewood, with curving streets and parks. The first phase of construction that began in June includes preparation of the site and demolition of the racetrack and grandstands. Wal-Mart originally owned the 60 acres adjacent to the Forum but sold it to Kroenke after failing to get public approval for a superstore. Madison Square Garden Co., which owns the Forum, had planned to buy the lot in order to acquire more space for parking and possibly additional development, but Kroenke beat them to it. Kroenke is a former Wal-Mart board member and husband of Ann Walton Kroenke, daughter of Wal-Mart co-founder Bud Walton. Forbes magazine estimates Kroenke's net worth at $5.8 billion — not counting his wife's $5.6 billion — making him the NFL's second-richest owner to Seattle's Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who is worth an estimated $17.1 billion. In addition to owning the Rams, Kroenke's family owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, and is the largest shareholder of the English soccer club Arsenal. http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82455005/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Always up to no good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Troll Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 The Los Angeles Rams has a nice ring to it. I'm surprised they haven't tried that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet9 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 A stadium not even 20 years old is "outdated"? OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetrider Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Who needs that fun, happy, sexy, tropical splendor La La land stuff? I think the Metlife look is more inviting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 The Los Angeles Rams has a nice ring to it. I'm surprised they haven't tried that before. Baseball also failed in DC a few times, now it's one of the better baseball markets in the country. Same for Jets in Winnipeg. Circumstances change. Like a Rams owner who wants to move in as opposed to a Rams owner who wants to move out. There is just no way an NFL team can fail in LA in 2015 and beyond. Just too much money to be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patman Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 It is about time that LA gets a team. Even better that it is the Rams. The team was greatly supported until Frontiere blew the team up and Al Davis tried to make LA a two team town. Being LA But it is sad that the NFL Can stick the taxpayers in St Louis for a stadium with no team. This happens they should move the combine to St Louis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 It is about time that LA gets a team. Even better that it is the Rams. The team was greatly supported until Frontiere blew the team up and Al Davis tried to make LA a two team town. Being LA But it is sad that the NFL Can stick the taxpayers in St Louis for a stadium with no team. This happens they should move the combine to St Louis. Nice consolation prize, I'm sure they would love to work out all the future NFL players that will never play in St. Louis now that they lost their team , lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 A stadium not even 20 years old is "outdated"? OK. When the taxpayers are footing the bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patman Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Nice consolation prize, I'm sure they would love to work out all the future NFL players that will never play in St. Louis now that they lost their team , lol It keeps the stadium rented for 8 days. It is not a bone for the fans but the taxpayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 It keeps the stadium rented for 8 days. It is not a bone for the fans but the taxpayers.i know what you meant, just found that aspect funny or in rams fans view depressing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Friend of mine went to the Giants-Rams game in the Edward Jones Dome. Said the mood in that stadium can best be described as "apathetic". Their QB gets hurt every year and they just have little to get excited about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Troll Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 A stadium not even 20 years old is "outdated"? OK. Domes got outdated fast with the rise of retractable roof stadiums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patman Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Domes got outdated fast with the rise of retractable roof stadiums. I don't think it is the retractable roof stuff, it is just that there are little if any club and luxury box seating. Plus no parking concession Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 planted story to take talk away from Cowboys/Lions debacle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powpow Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 The Los Angeles Rams has a nice ring to it. I'm surprised they haven't tried that before. My second favorite team in the 70's and 80's.........The Los Angeles Rams. The had so many great players, Snow, Gabriel, McCutcheon, Deacon, Youngblood, Reynolds, Jackson, Hadl, Tyler, Cappelletti, Elmendorf, Olsen. Great teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 planted story to take talk away from Cowboys/Lions debacle this has been in the works for at least a year. Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who bought 60 acres adjacent to the Forum a year ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 A stadium not even 20 years old is "outdated"? OK. When the taxpayers are footing the bill. Bingo. http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/105561458/st-louis-rams-los-angeles-move-from-st-louis-inglewood St. Louis city attorneys had no idea who they were dealing with, and just how outmatched they were. Says Nagourney: "I went to a meeting in Los Angeles one morning. We had a whiteboard, and we're putting stuff down [to demand from cities]. And some of the stuff, I said, 'Guys, some of this is crazy.' And John Shaw, who was president of the Rams at the time -- brilliant, brilliant guy -- said, 'They can always say no, let's ask for it.'" And St. Louis said yes to all of it. The city was so desperate for a team -- still reeling from the loss of the football Cardinals, with civic leaders eager to show that their downtown could be revitalized again -- that they agreed, essentially, to everything, including paying for a new dome entirely with public money. The deal was stacked against St. Louis in a number of ways -- so many that when the baseball Cardinals (an infinitely more popular team locally) wanted a similar sweetheart deal for a stadium a few years later, they were unable to get one, so burned was everyone by the Rams' debacle -- but the worst, and the one most applicable to today's situation, was the "state of the art" clause. It required St. Louis taxpayers not only to pay for the whole stadium themselves, but also pony up for premium upkeep. The Edward Jones Dome had to rank in "the top 25 percent of NFL stadiums" to meet the lease agreement. If it fell below that (as it inevitably would have to, particularly considering 20 stadiums have been built since the Edward Jones Dome), St. Louisans would have to build them another one, "when the paint is barely dry from the first one," as deMause put it. St. Louis obviously didn't build the Rams a new stadium, so the Rams are gonna break the lease, and now they're threatening to move. This was a situation entirely born out of desperation 20 years ago. And here we are again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powpow Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 planted story to take talk away from Cowboys/Lions debacle LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 this has been in the works for at least a year. so it just RANDOMLY pops up this morning? okay Goodell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Bingo. http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/105561458/st-louis-rams-los-angeles-move-from-st-louis-inglewood St. Louis city attorneys had no idea who they were dealing with, and just how outmatched they were. Says Nagourney: "I went to a meeting in Los Angeles one morning. We had a whiteboard, and we're putting stuff down [to demand from cities]. And some of the stuff, I said, 'Guys, some of this is crazy.' And John Shaw, who was president of the Rams at the time -- brilliant, brilliant guy -- said, 'They can always say no, let's ask for it.'" And St. Louis said yes to all of it. The city was so desperate for a team -- still reeling from the loss of the football Cardinals, with civic leaders eager to show that their downtown could be revitalized again -- that they agreed, essentially, to everything, including paying for a new dome entirely with public money. The deal was stacked against St. Louis in a number of ways -- so many that when the baseball Cardinals (an infinitely more popular team locally) wanted a similar sweetheart deal for a stadium a few years later, they were unable to get one, so burned was everyone by the Rams' debacle -- but the worst, and the one most applicable to today's situation, was the "state of the art" clause. It required St. Louis taxpayers not only to pay for the whole stadium themselves, but also pony up for premium upkeep. The Edward Jones Dome had to rank in "the top 25 percent of NFL stadiums" to meet the lease agreement. If it fell below that (as it inevitably would have to, particularly considering 20 stadiums have been built since the Edward Jones Dome), St. Louisans would have to build them another one, "when the paint is barely dry from the first one," as deMause put it. St. Louis obviously didn't build the Rams a new stadium, so the Rams are gonna break the lease, and now they're threatening to move. This was a situation entirely born out of desperation 20 years ago. And here we are again. The pendulum is swinging. Hopefully most of these taxpayer getting effed every which way deals are coming to an end, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 so it just RANDOMLY pops up this morning? okay Goodell Conspiracy theorists are the worst. 1. This story isn't stoping ANYONE from discussing what happened in Dallas. 2. It's Monday, no games going on, start of first work week post holiday season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Update: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/inglewood-approving-plan-la-area-nfl-stadium-29177894 Council OKs Los Angeles-Area Stadium Backed by Rams Owner INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Feb 25, 2015, 2:19 AM ET The Inglewood City Council late Tuesday night approved plans to build a football stadium that includes St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke as a partner, clearing a path for a return to the Los Angeles area of the NFL for the first time in two decades. The council approved the $2 billion plan with a 5-0 vote after a meeting with several hours of public comment and many vocal Rams fans wearing jerseys in attendance. The vote adopts a new redevelopment plan without calling a public vote, effectively kickstarting construction and sidestepping lengthy environmental review of issues such as noise, traffic and air pollution. It adds the 80,000 seat, 60-acre stadium to an existing 2009 plan to redevelop the former Hollywood Park racetrack site with homes, offices, stores, parks and open space and a hotel. Kroenke is part of the Hollywood Park Land Co. development group that is promoting the project. New urgency came to the issue last week with the announcement that the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers are planning a shared stadium in suburban Carson if they don't get their current hometowns to cough up enough money to replace their aging stadiums. Another stadium plan remains alive for downtown Los Angeles, but has no team attached. Stadium proponents said it is important to approve the concept as soon as possible to avoid delays in the redevelopment that already is underway. They would like construction to start by year's end to have a venue ready for the 2018 football season. A Feb. 20 consultants' report to the city manager backing the stadium notes that the developer, not the public, would pay the cost of building the stadium and says the plan would allow the city — once home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings before they moved to Los Angeles — "to continue its legacy of providing the region with world-class sports and entertainment." The consultants also conclude that no new environmental impact reports — which are costly and often take months or even years — would be necessary. The review also said the stadium would bring the city more than 10,000 jobs and tens of millions of dollars a year in new tax revenue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Well it looks like it's finally happening. My guess is one lame duck season in St. Louis and then Rams head to LA to play a season or 2 in the Rose Bowl before moving into new stadium. I wonder if Jeff Fisher took the Rams job knowing the owner was looking to get the team to LA, where Fisher is from and went to school at USC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82455005/ Feel sorry for those tax payers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdetroit Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Please put a team in LA I'm sick of these crooked owners using LA to extort the taxpayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patman Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Feel sorry for those tax payers! In the article it looks like Kronke, looks like he is financing it himself without taxpayer help for the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 In the article it looks like Kronke, looks like he is financing it himself without taxpayer help for the stadium. Got to see it to believe it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 In the article it looks like Kronke, looks like he is financing it himself without taxpayer help for the stadium. All owners should use their own money to build stadiums. Loser owners are always looking for tax payer handouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patman Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Got to see it to believe it. Why kraft did it, the SF Giants did it, Hick towns now are the only ones that subsidize. None of the 4 teams in Boston go subsidies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flushing Roots Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Who needs that fun, happy, sexy, tropical splendor La La land stuff? I think the Metlife look is more inviting. Yeah, be kind of tough to sit next to a guy in flip flops drinking an Apple Martini at a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnitedWhofans Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 All owners should use their own money to build stadiums. Loser owners are always looking for tax payer handouts. Primarily their own money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 A stadium not even 20 years old is "outdated"? OK. It's not falling apart, but it sucks balls. Been there a few times and it's bare as all hell. Even Rams fans hate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 All owners should use their own money to build stadiums. Loser owners are always looking for tax payer handouts. Oooooooobviously yoooooouuuu didn't go to laaaaaawwwwww skeeewwwwwl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFSIKH Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Why kraft did it, the SF Giants did it, Hick towns now are the only ones that subsidize. None of the 4 teams in Boston go subsidies. Didn't Kraft get like 50 million from the state for road improvmeents or such? He did pay the tab for the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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