Los Angeles ready for an NFL Team

Farmers Field waiting on NFL team

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nfl/s...sputes-settled

Farmers Field is ready for construction. The only thing left now is the small detail of bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles.

Last month, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved plans to build Farmers Field, a proposed $1.5 billion downtown football stadium connected to an expanded Los Angeles Convention Center. On Thursday, the 30-day window for legal challenges to the project passed with no disputes.

AEG and the Play Fair at Farmers Field Coalition also announced Thursday that recent litigation challenging the project had been settled, clearing the path for Farmers Field to proceed without any further legal obstacles.............

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 teams in July stating that any franchise interested in relocating for the 2013 season must apply between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15 of that year, and prove it has exhausted all attempts to remain in its current location.

Farmers Field is now in a position to break ground as soon as a team commits to playing in Los Angeles, similar to a competing stadium proposed by real estate magnate Ed Roski in the City of Industry, which has been ready to push dirt since 2009.

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What a coincidence

So is Buffalo.

How could they relocate for the 2013 season? The article says it would take 4 years to build. Would they play in the Coliseum for 3 seasons?

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Originally Posted by MidnightVoice

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 teams in July stating that any franchise interested in relocating for the 2013 season must apply between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15 of that year, and prove it has exhausted all attempts to remain in its current location.

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Does "exhausted all attempts" mean "failed to reach agreement with the county on stadium repairs or a new stadium lease?"

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Originally Posted by OpIv37

Does "exhausted all attempts" mean "failed to reach agreement with the county on stadium repairs or a new stadium lease?"

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It could, but I cant imagine NYS or Erie County not filing an injunction. The government would have to prove the org did not negotiate in good faith.

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Originally Posted by DraftBoy

It could, but I cant imagine NYS or Erie County not filing an injunction. The government would have to prove the org did not negotiate in good faith.

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wow this could get really ugly.

this is exactly why this season was so immensely disappointing. they could be gone in a flash.

however, from the limited inside-ness that i get through various outlets, the NFL is curious about buffalo and toronto. They aren't really interested in cross country relocation and realignment. Also there are grumblings that others in the wilson family are getting into running the team and might have some interest to keep it going. it's not a done deal that they'll sell to highest bidder.

i think San Diego is the team that is most likely to be a target. right time zone, lease issues forever, oldest stadium, poor turnout....but i wouldn't rule the bills out. especially if the old man doesn't make it to the end of the deadline.

Or if the lease isn't renewed. As of now, we don't have a home after the last game of this season.

Here's the problem: the Bills lease doesn't expire until July 31.

However, as we saw with Al Davis 30 years ago, Goodell may not be able to enforce his demands.

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Originally Posted by Johnny Bugmenot

Here's the problem: the Bills lease doesn't expire until July 31.

However, as we saw with Al Davis 30 years ago, Goodell may not be able to enforce his demands.

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How is that a problem? There are no games between Jan 1 and July 31. Worst case scenario is that the team pays for the existing stadium lease and an LA stadium lease for a couple of months. Between the cost of the team and the stadium deal, we're talking about over a billion dollars in financial transactions. The cost of double rent for a couple of months isn't a dealbreaker.

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Originally Posted by OpIv37

How is that a problem? There are no games between Jan 1 and July 31. Worst case scenario is that the team pays for the existing stadium lease and an LA stadium lease for a couple of months. Between the cost of the team and the stadium deal, we're talking about over a billion dollars in financial transactions. The cost of double rent for a couple of months isn't a dealbreaker.

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The problem is that the commissioner could determine that as long as the lease is still active, they still have a home and have not technically exhausted all options. Like I said, though, it's not as if that phrasing is ironclad-- or even enforceable.

True. I'm just getting tired of talking about this. I want this situation resolved.

Hopefully it gets resolved with a new owner and a new lease in Buffalo, and we can stop talking about this for at least a few years. But if they are going to move the team, just get it over with and free us from our weekly Sunday misery.

Come to think of it, that language is probably just BS anyway. It's spin so the NFL can move a team without looking like they're trying to move a team. Their public statement is "We'll move a team, but ONLY if they are having trouble with their facility and the local/state government in their current location." The reality is that they'll move whichever team will result in the most financial benefit. They don't want to look like they're pissing on some poor city by uprooting their team for a money grab, but that is what they are doing.