http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-sp-nfl-stadium-aeg-20150309-story.html#page=2 NFL has not been in Los Angeles for nearly 20 years. There are many reasons for this, but all of a sudden, there are 4 serious bids to build NFL stadiums in the greater LA Area. AEG, owner of the O2 Arena on London, Staples Center in LA, and dozens of other stadiums and sports teams (inlcuding LA Galaxy) were furthest down the line of development when two new and very serious bids came in attached to actual NFL teams. This article discusses the AEG counterattack, specifically how limp it is... The Carson plan is of great interest to me since it is very close to my home (4 miles or so). The studies AEG paid for are hilarious for their comical conclusions. My secret hope is that LA gets the AEG plan for Farmers Field accomplished, I become a fair weather fan of said NFL occupant there, the Galaxy move in to play in a true downtown atmosphere, and we all live happily ever after. So many options and variables, and it is anybody's guess who will prevail. By the way, AEG used to have the most visionary leader in Tim Leiweke, but he got in a spat over Farmers Field with AEG owner Phil Anschutz and left to Toronto. Anschutz tried to sell off the company in the wake of Leiweke's departure, but couldn't get a buyer at the price he was asking, and now I can't help but feel Anschutz is pining for Timmy to return, and Leiweke is launghing all the way to the bank elsewhere.
Incidentally, the Carson plan would have BOTH the Chargers and the Raiders sharing the stadium on the single largest piece of ground used for an NFL stadium yet. The Rams would be the tenant in the Inglewood stadium. Farmers Field does not have a team attached to it. Neither does the oldest and now least competitive site way out east in the post-industrial hinterlands...a truly apocalyptic Mad Max sort of place, where small men in long shorts and flat billed baseball caps drive enormous lifted 4x4 trucks filled with surgically enhanced women, methamphetamine and Monster energy drink. A savage and unforgiving place.
...and it's gone. http://deadspin.com/report-aeg-throws-in-the-towel-on-downtown-l-a-s-farme-1690438219? AEG Throws In The Towel on Downtown NFL Stadium
Fitz - I have to agree with your assessment of the Bears, unfortunately. But, hey; when you employ a child as GM the organisation's toys will get thrown out the pram... The Chargers should relocate to Mexico, allowing the Rams to go "home" to Los Angeles. I doubt either of those things will happen, however. Could the NCAA object to a pro team in LA?
The Pac 12, UCLA and mostly U$C will spend lobbying dollars to dissuade an NFL team from getting to LA. In fact, the strength of college football here is often pointed to as a reason to avoid bringing NFL to LA. However, "pro" NFL and "amateur" NCAA are theortically different markets so, any NCAA opposition would just be like the community at large. There really aren't local fans clamoring to get a team, it's more like everyone in the football world thinks there ought to be a team here. The NFL wants a piece of the tv dollars any LA team drives, but as far as a groundswell of grass roots support for an NFL team? No.
I thought that would be the case - it always seems that "we'll I'll take the [team] to Los Angeles!!" is a threat from owners requiring more tax-dollars / whatever else in their current location; rather than an appeasement of millions of football fans. I would have thought the NCAA would lobby as hard as possible to prevent any stadium for "pro"-football being constructed. It feels the more people talk about there not being a team there, the more the league decides it wants a team there. Imagine the brouhaha when Goddell gets up on stage at next year's Draft announcing an expansion franchise The London Bridges/Towers/Cockneys and still no Los Angeles team...
So as an Eagles fan I was very excited for Free Agency to start, excited for Maxwell but pessimistic for who else we will sign. I also can't believe Maclin would go to Kansas after how poorly their WRs were fed last year.
You are right about using LA as a bargaining chip. Unlike smaller towns who truly identify with their NFL/MLB/NBA teams, Los Angeles has been steadfast in not using public money to pay for facilities and stadiums. So teams will play the LA card to chisel more money out of their current home, knowing full well LA would never give them a cent. The smaller towns panic and cave, spending money they don't have, and never seeing a return. LA has handled the whole thing right all along in my opinion. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Maybe you could answer the question a load of Bills fans (and indeed a load of NFL fans) are wondering- why did you trade us McCoy for Alonso?
He ran East to West, and not North to South. His productivity had dropped by 33% Basically he either got -3 yards or 20, rarely in between. Plus Alonso was at Oregon with Chip so he knows him well.
I have no idea what's happening, Either Chip Kelly is hammered, or as been taking lessons from Sam Hinkie.
Well I'd say after the last few days Chip has balanced on the line between genius and insanity! To have flipped McCoy for $10m for Alonso and Murray for about $9m which is great. We now easily have the best RB group in the league with Murray Mathews and Sproles. If we can now pick up a S or a WR I'd be extremely happy with this FA.
I'm in San Francisco and San Diego in November so hope to catch a game. Need to persuade the missus it's a good way to spend our holiday...
nascot, I hope the stars align for you and you can go and see the Bears in San Diego. Also, Dallas: Matt Forte hates the warm weather. Just leave it now.
So then, now the jubilation over the Premier League has subsided a tad - how do we all feel about the respective draft classes? I must admit I was sceptical about taking White at #7 overall, but I have been convinced by Ryan Pace's belief in the guy. Still not sure that trading Marshall had to be done. Aside from that, I'm happy. It's obviously not going to be a "one-draft-fix" solution in Chicago, but this was a promising beginning for the new regime.
Eagles didn't mortgage the future so that was nice. As for the Bears I like to pick. The really early mock drafts for 2016 have them taking Hack. So you have that to look forward too.
Decent review of off season and draft moves. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ens-head-up-teams-on-the-rise-after-nfl-draft
Looking forward to seeing the Texans on Hard Knocks, mostly just to see how uncomfortable BOB is with such nonsense.
I'll only watch if BOB wears the same sandals as Mike Smith last year (I'll be watching, I'm action starved)
Good to see the Seahawks signed Russell up, i started following them when they picked up Jessie Williams (Aussie) unfortunately he's had some injury issues including cancer to deal with but it would be good to see him get a run this year, he can't stay on the injury list for much longer
Anyone following Jarryd Hayne the ex rugby league players transition to NFL? He's played in all 4 pre-season games and has done quite well playing multiple positions, looks like he should get named in the final 53 man 49'ers squad. Pretty big news in Oz and starting to make some waves in the US as well. THey seem to be pretty risk adverse with how the play the game tactics wise and how they treat their bodies, appears to be a breath of fresh air. http://www.foxsports.com.au/us-spor...t-nfl-pre-season/story-fnp3l4e4-1227513516589
I think it's great. You're right, there is an orthodoxy of thought among the football establishment, from high school through the pros. It's a very slow to change, slow to grasp new ideas, slow to generate new ideas kind of sport. I've thought for a long time that rugby players could offer a new dimension on the sport here. And vice versa...if USA got serious about rugby, and more football players took it up, USA rugby could really put a hurting on the rugby world. By the way, I saw a really interesting segment on the show Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel about a high school coach who never ever punts, and never ever does any other kind of kick than an onside kick. The idea is to generate more opportunities to retain possessions and get the ball back more frequently to get more opportunities to score. He concepts come out of rugby style play. While he has won nearly all the games he's coached, everyone looks at him like a novelty act. The fact is the statistics support his possession based philosophy but that's not good enough for the establishment... So orthodox!! Anyway, change is good. Edit: here's a link. https://vimeo.com/36312722
They say defence wins championships, but I took Cutler & co. all the way to the Vince Lombardi trophy on Madden '13 by only-ever using the on-side kick. Glad to see that my tactical innovations have taken root in the real world. Always go for 2, as well. Sorry, Robbie Gould.
