The Boogeyman of Los Angeles: The continuing saga of the NFL, its franchises, and the nation's 2nd largest market Part 1
by FSBlueApocalypse on Jul 24, 2008 7:00 AM EDT
13 comments
This is a three part series that is a response not only to the constant media articles seemingly saying the Jaguars are going to LA, but for any fan of any team who hears those dreaded two letters. Part one is some back story to those unaware of the events that have been going on for the last 14 years and why LA still does not have a team.
The Prologue
Prior to the 1995 season, the Raiders left the LA Coliseum for their former home of Oakland while the Rams left Anaheim for St. Louis. Since then, there has been an almost zealous movement within the media and the NFL owners to come back to the City of Angels.
It would seem to make sense, it would place a team in the 2nd largest market in the nation, which would seemingly boost TV revenues and cement the country's most popular league in every major market.
Commissioner Goodell has made no bones about how he feels a team should be place in Los Angeles soon. However, what has this long, bizarre fourteen year trip really brought us?
What has there been?
From the moment the Raiders and Rams left the LA market, the speculation started almost immediately. This article from 1999 mentions quite a few names and scenarios that seem to be discussed to death.
As our AFC South mates in Houston remember, the Texans were originally going to be in Los Angeles before the usual problems of public financing and stadium issues that saw the Raiders and Rams leave, and have derailed even the most determined plans since to bring a team back to Los Angeles.
So then, why has it seemed as if it is inevitable that a team will call Los Angeles home again, but as that decade old article suggests, its been a long journey?
Stadium Situation
Currently, Los Angeles is home to two major football stadiums, the Los Angeles Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. Both have hosted NFL teams in the past and two of the nation's major college programs, USC and UCLA, still call them home today. However, both have their share of problems in terms of NFL standards. Both stadiums lack many standard features common in NFL stadiums today, including numerous luxury suites, club sections, as well as upgraded concession stands, rest rooms, etc.
It was speculated that recent developments between USC and the LA Coliseum for renovations were put off to try and save money to lure an NFL franchise; however, those have since been finalized. Either way, both stadiums would have to receive multimillion dollar upgrades to make them attractive to maintaining a NFL team long term.
In addition, both stadiums have seating capacities that would put them in the top 3 in the league. While this might not seem a huge deal, remember one of the reasons the Raiders and Rams skipped town was because of their large sizes and constant black outs.
With the Cardinals moving out of Sun Devils stadium, I doubt the NFL would permit a team to move to a stadium it would have to "defer" to a college team. While the Steelers share Heinz Field with the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Dolphins will share their stadium with the Miami Hurricanes next year, those are decidedly "Pro" facilities where they simply drape over some covers a few times a year when the college teams play. For the other two facilities, it would be the other way around most likely, where the college team may well be seen as the "Primary" tenant.
The newest hope for a team in LA is the proposed Los Angeles Stadium which will have a capacity of 75,000 and include numerous suites, retail, and the rest of the laundry list you would expect from a new state of the art stadium. However, without any serious public funding for the moment, at best the stadium only exists in CGI and blueprints. With the state of California virtually bankrupt, pulling billions of dollars from schools or healthcare for a stadium would be political suicide.
The Market
Los Angeles reprents a huge market for the NFL, a statement that has been written numerous times since 1994. LA has already been a dread to many other franchises, ripping away the Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, and even the Raiders and Rams from former cities.
However, does LA currently warrant a team? Countless opinion polls seem to come to the conclusion that LA is rather apathetic about whether or not it receives a team or not. The city has lost the Chargers, Raiders, and Rams already. Does the NFL really believe another team will stick in a fickle market?
The Team
The most concerning part of this is what team would want to make Los Angeles their new home? Part two will take a look at what teams have been mentioned, and why or why not they might want to call the City of Angels home.
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Good article. While I have explained to many people that if the Jaguars move to LA, I will simply give up on NFL football, I do think we should mention, in the interest of equal time, that LA’s team-stealing history has a lot to do with being a huge and untapped market back before the days of stabilized leagues and/or modern expansion models.
by Cowtown on Jul 24, 2008 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LA a big market?
How does Lower Alabama rate a 2nd largest market? (TIC)
by Pyrofish on Jul 24, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For the record, the Rams played in the LA Coliseum, and then moved to Orange County in the early 80’s. They shred Anaheim Stadium with the Angels until the time they left. They did not play in the Rose Bowl (except for Super Bowl XIV). Pasadena has always fought NFL teams, except the Super Bowl, and the Angels renovated Anaheim Stadium back to a baseball only facility after the Rams left.
by nodoginhunt on Jul 24, 2008 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My bad, I was drawing a blank there, will be correct ASAP
-John
by FSBlueApocalypse on Jul 24, 2008 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The newest proposal for the stadium in the City of Industry
would use no public funds. Ed Roski, who teamed with AEG to build Staples Center would build it entirely with private funds. The only things that the public would provide is improved roads and access to the stadium and the funds for that has already been passed by the City of Industry council. The only thing Roski is waiting on is a team. When he gets the promise of a team they start construction ASAP. It would take 2 years to build and a team would likely play 2 seasons either at the Coliseum or Rose Bowl before moving into the new stadium. I’ve never been optimistic about a LA stadium plan before, but I’m fairly optimistic that this stadium will get done in the next 5 years. I just don’t expect the Jaguars to be the team playing in that stadium.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jul 24, 2008 1:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Today at a luncheon
Roski threw he showed off his plans for the stadium and invited a few LA dignitaries to drum up support. It looks like LA will get a team, possibly as early as 2009. I still think that the Chargers are the best bet though considering they need a new stadium, San Diego has said they will not give them money and their owner has no interest in building it privately.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jul 24, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
forget LA, the Jags are stay right here in this city ya heard me.
by leopold332002 on Jul 24, 2008 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
who cares
Wayne Weaver says the Jaguars are staying in Jacksonville. Drop this LA stuff and focus on the team that is here now.
by Tkopa on Jul 24, 2008 10:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We're trying to address the issue, once and for all
The best way to shut this talk down is to have a concrete example of where it comes from and why it’s bunk.
That way we can shove it in the face of that D’bag Michael Silver
-Chris
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Jul 25, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Other NFL teams that share their stadium, and other thoughts.
The Tennessee Titans share LP Field with Tennessee State University on a regular basis, and on an occasional basis with Middle Tennessee State University. It also hosts the high school state championship tourney.
This is one of the main reasons that LP Field is one of the worst playing surfaces in the NFL. All natural grass, frequently 2 games a week, something like 20 games one week in November. Sometimes they just spray-paint it green to cover up that it’s actually primarily dirt, not grass.
Also, I firmly believe a team already in Cali, like San Diego or San Francisco, are far more likely to move to LA than anybody else. They both have fan bases present to some extent, and both currently have major stadium issues in their current city.
by hartley on Jul 24, 2008 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I had no idea
That the Titans shared a stadium. That’s got to be annoying to have the NFL team get the worst of the field. The Steelers have it pretty bad as well. 20 games in a week is INSANE.
-Chris
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Jul 25, 2008 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You'll notice when you come to the game this year.
The TSU Tigers logo is on several of the stadium signs.
It was part of the public financing deal to build the stadium. TSU is a public university, and depsite being Division 1AA and in the OVC, their games are well-attended (TSU games are sometimes better-attended than 1A SEC Vanderbilt). The roads near the university weren’t designed to handle the traffic, they can’t be widened without tearing down buildings, and that can’t happen because it’s a registered historic district. So the Titans agreed to allow TSU to play at their stadium, which clears up a lot of traffic issues on TSU game days.
But yeah, because college plays earlier in the week, it means the NFL team who is the primary tenant actually gets the worse part of the deal.
by hartley on Jul 25, 2008 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How ofton do they work on the fields?
Do they get worked on every month or so? Or does it just deteriorate throughout the year?
by kujo24 on Jul 25, 2008 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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