LOS ANGELES - Farmers Field (72,000)

[Jericho-79]

Originally Posted by ryebreadraz

You can't depend on Georgia St. because they use it for premieres at the movie theater and also they block it off sometimes to help stage events at Nokia or on the deck of the parking garage.

Exactly. I like the idea of transforming Chick Hearn into one gigantic plaza, blocked off at Cherry and Figueroa.

I guess that would mean closing down Georgia between the "LA Live Plaza" and Olympic. Perhaps transform that portion of Georgia into an "extension" of the plaza in front of the Ritz?

And that means the only entrances/exits for the parking garage will be located on Cherry. It shouldn't be too much of a problem, though. At the Meadowlands here in New Jersey, the parking garage has only one opening, which serves as an entranceway before games and as an exit after. Of course, it will be a pain in the ass to get out with everyone else leaving at the same time.

[madhuckfinn]

Love the discussion here. Count me in as an AEG honk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmuWtyBa_lw

[soup or man]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/stor...aws-on-cowboys

AEG has issued a proposal to design a $725 million stadium in downtown Los Angeles featuring a retractable roof and 40 field-level suites among its 218 luxury boxes.

The request for proposal for the Los Angeles Event Center, a copy of which was obtained by SportsBusiness Journal, puts to paper AEG’s push to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles after a prolonged absence. It is also the first of several critical steps AEG must complete in the next four to five years to deliver the project by its targeted opening date of Aug. 15, 2015.

The pursuit by AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke to bring the NFL to Los Angeles, a venture that includes Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman, continues to move forward. But before breaking ground at the site — across the street from AEG-owned Staples Center and the AEG-developed L.A. Live entertainment district — the group still has deals to get done with the NFL and a team to make the move to Los Angeles. AEG also has to make a separate deal with city officials to build the stadium on land where part of the Los Angeles Convention Center stands, Leiweke said.

Before issuing the RFP, AEG studied the last two NFL venues built, New Meadowlands Stadium and Cowboys Stadium. Its plan to build 40 field-level suites, preferably along the sidelines, came from Cowboys Stadium’s 48 event-level suites. In Arlington, those premium spaces sell for $200,000 to $240,000 annually. The Cowboys’ palace clearly has influenced the early plans for Los Angeles.

“We spent a lot of time with Dallas,” Leiweke said. “We have great respect for [the Joneses] and I think they have done a phenomenal job there.”

Cowboys Stadium, just short of 3 million square feet, cost about $1.2 billion, and New Meadowlands Stadium’s price tag was $1.7 billion for a facility of similar size to the proposed event center. By comparison, AEG has a total budget of $1 billion, including soft costs such as infrastructure upgrades, to build a 1.75-million-square-foot stadium.

“We know we can do it for that,” Leiweke said. “If you look at Cowboys Stadium, they spent about $400 per square foot. Our building is going to be substantially smaller because we already have an entertainment district so we don’t have to put as much into our building.”

The event center, as it is being called at this point, would have 160 traditional suites and 18 larger event rental skyboxes with 48 to 90 seats, slightly fewer than some larger NFL facilities. Elevated suites on the south end must convert to meeting room use for the adjacent convention center.

The 14,700 club seats would be supported by various bars and lounges, a full-service restaurant and a team store. That number is about on par with Cowboys Stadium and Lucas Oil Stadium and about 2,500 fewer than FedEx Field. In addition, AEG Global Partnerships is actively marketing the stadium’s naming rights and founding partner program, AEG officials said.

Parking won’t be a problem, Leiweke believes, because 32,000 spaces sit within a 15-minute walk of the proposed stadium site, which is now occupied by the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“This stadium will be LEED [certified] because of our light rail transportation, buses and Union Station down the street,” he said. “We have an environmentally friendly vision and that’s important to us.”

The 72,000-seat facility would have the flexibility to expand to 76,250 for mega-events such as the Super Bowl, NCAA football games, FIFA World Cup finals and NCAA Final Four.

The stadium could house an NCAA football program, but Leiweke said persuading USC or UCLA to become a tenant is not as important as securing an NFL team, landing the Final Four and 2022 World Cup finals, separate international soccer matches and additional conventions and trade shows.

“That gets us 50 events a year,” he said. “We don’t need a college team to make sense out of this. Soccer was always part of the initial vision and it will continue to be a large part of the way we design the stadium.”

AEG officials are talking to several NFL teams about relocating, Leiweke confirmed, but he refused to identify those clubs. “Whatever we do with the teams, it is completely under the direction and the approval of the commissioner [Roger Goodell], so I will follow his lead religiously,” Leiweke said. “I’m not going to get out in front of the 32 team owners or the league office.”

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, “We continue to monitor all stadium developments and any progress being made at stadium sites.”

Should everything fall in place, Phil Anschutz, AEG’s chairman and Leiweke’s boss, would most likely give his approval to privately finance construction, Leiweke said.

The RFP, issued Nov. 3 and sent to nine architects, lists AEG and Leiweke as the developer. It has been reported that Wasserman is AEG’s partner in the project. Icon Venue Group, AEG’s sister company based in suburban Denver, is project manager and sent the proposal. Architects have until Dec. 3 to submit their proposals to Icon.

“The one thing I am certain of is the NFL owners would like to be back in L.A. and they want to make sure that they pick the best location that has the best chance for success,” Leiweke said, comparing AEG’s site to developer Ed Roski’s site for an NFL stadium in City of Industry, 22 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. “They do not want to take a chance here, they can’t. They have to be perfect this next time in L.A.”

They might as well name the stadium AEG Field.

[KingmanIII]

They can build a stadium in downtown L.A. for $725 mil?

That can't include land acquisition and infrastructure costs...

[Marckymarc]

Originally Posted by KingmanIII

They can build a stadium in downtown L.A. for $725 mil?

That can't include land acquisition and infrastructure costs...

In construction it's all about cost per square foot. The Downtown stadium is stated to be roughly the same cost/sq. ft. as Cowboys stadium. The final cost is not going to be the same though, because Cowboys Stadium is 3 million sq ft, while the Downtown stadium is only going to be 1.7 million sq ft.. Plus, many of the "amenities" that Cowboys Stadium provide, like restaurants, bars and clubs are already across the street at LA Live.

[Jericho-79]

Originally Posted by soup or man

They might as well name the stadium AEG Field.

I was about to post a question about this stadium's naming rights.

Look at Cisco Field for the Oakland A's. That ballpark already has a name and it hasn't even broken ground yet.

So will the downtown stadium be named after a company that is headquartered in Los Angeles (like how Cisco Systems is headquartered in San Jose)?

If so- How do the following names sound?

Herbalife Stadium
Farmers Field
Sunkist Stadium
City National Stadium
Oaktree Field

Or will the downtown stadium be given a generic name (like Cowboys Stadium and New Meadowlands Stadium)?

If so- How do the following names sound?

Vikings/Jaguars/Rams Stadium
South Park Stadium

[ryebreadraz]

AEG has said that there will be naming rights and that their sponsorship division is already working on securing them. While it is not always the case, it is common for a local company to put their name on stadiums so I think the first thing to do would be to look at local Los Angeles companies that would have interest. That said, when you're talking about downtown Los Angeles and next to Staples Center/Nokia Theater so it's sure to be in overhead shots as well as the magnitude of events they plan on hosting, it will be a national and international enough venue to bring in non-local companies for naming rights. You can bet that it will have naming rights though.

[Jericho-79]

Originally Posted by ryebreadraz

That said, when you're talking about downtown Los Angeles and next to Staples Center/Nokia Theater so it's sure to be in overhead shots as well as the magnitude of events they plan on hosting, it will be a national and international enough venue to bring in non-local companies for naming rights. You can bet that it will have naming rights though.

I just hope the stadium won't end up with a retarded name like KFC Yum! Center.

But I'm willing to bet that the naming rights will be bought by some company out in Silicon Valley.

[pesto]

Silicon Valley maybe, but Japan or Korea more likely. That close to Ktown (which is expanding toward DT and USC) and the new Grand development (which I assume will have Korean Air signage) would make Hyundai or Samsung a natural.

[Jericho-79]

Hey everyone. I went on a couple of Los Angeles-based internet forums, and asked various SoCal residents about their thoughts on the DT stadium proposal from AEG.

One San Diego resident commented:

Oh boy here we go again.

The Spanos clan may very well take their ball and go to LA, and there may not be much we here in SD can do about it. They've been beating us over the head for 8 years with this LA stadium stuff. We'll never know if they're really moving, or if they're just posturing for a better stadium deal until after the fact anyway. While this team is the SAN DIEGO chargers, they will continue to have my full fandom, including game tickets, merchandise, etc. But as soon any situation is presented where they are no longer the San Diego Chargers, I will boycott the NFL and I will also vigorously oppose the return of the league to LA. I urge all SAN DIEGO chargers fans to take the same approach to the situation. Perhaps if the NFL bean counters realize that SD fandom will not become LA fandom, it will help our cause.

I hope they fail miserably.

One Thousand Oaks resident commented:

I believe it was Doug Gottlieb on ESPN radio who said it best a couple of weeks ago:

There are plenty of teams that would like to move to LA = Chargers, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, maybe the Raiders. But why would LA want a team. They can go to San Diego, the Bay Area, or Phoenix easily if they want to see a game. They get the best games of the day every Sunday, not games that are dictated to them because it's the local team.

This is why I'm still surprised that Houston got an NFL franchise.

One Pasadena resident commented:

AEG has been quite successful with its development in the area so far. But people been tossing stadium plans around for about 20 years now. Is there any reason to think that this one may be more successful than the others? How realistic is this plan, or is this idle talk to cover up another scheme?

Don't forget they are embarking on a huge upgrade at the Rose Bowl, so Pasadena still has hopes of attracting an NFL team there, God help us.

One IE resident commented:

It'll never happen. The land in downtown is too expensive. No way are they going to build it on the Convention Center property. It will never EVER happen. Not going to happen.

There are places that would be better such as Carson or the old Olympic coliseum. But their best bet is to try and build it in Burbank on the lots near the airport that were formerly part of the aerospace industry. I'm sure the city of Burbank will approve of it. They (city of Burbank) made a major goof years ago when they denied Walt Disney the right to build Disneyland there (yes that was his original plan, NOT in Anaheim) and they will never make such a mistake again.

One Long Beach resident commented:

Please god no. Where is the fanbase going to be? You think that area is going to lose its Raiders affiliation?

Downtown LA is ghetto anyways.

And one OC resident commented:

Someone had better get a franchise lined up first. There are reasons why the Rams and Raiders left town.

Do you guys think these residents' opinions hold any water?

[slipperydog]

Originally Posted by Jericho-79

Hey everyone. I went on a couple of Los Angeles-based internet forums, and asked various SoCal residents about their thoughts on the DT stadium proposal from AEG. Do you guys think these residents' opinions hold any water?

One San Diego resident commented:

Just seems to me that the SD fans would be angry about the team moving. Nothing really surprising there.

One Thousand Oaks resident commented:

This is a fair assessment. I don't think anyone is dying for an NFL team, but I have no doubts they'll be supported if they do get one.

One Pasadena resident commented:

Yes, this AEG one is very realistic. Because it appears to have the full backing of the NFL. And no Pasadena is not interested in the NFL, their renovation is designed to lock up UCLA and the Rose Bowl game.

One IE resident commented:

I don't know if AEG is actually interested in purchasing the downtown site from the city. What I do know is that they intend to build the stadium, and then manage it along with the convention center complex as a whole. But they bought the Staples Center site, so I don't see why the West Hall site would be prohibitively expensive.

One Long Beach resident commented:

Downtown is certainly ghetto in parts, but South Park is most definitely on the upswing. Lots of condos/apartments being built down there. As for Raider fans? I don't think that's necessarily the demographic AEG is targeting. Raider fans will be Raider fans. They are a different breed altogether.

And one OC resident commented:

Locking up a franchise first is a given. And AEG intends to do so before they start construction.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Jericho-79

Hey everyone. I went on a couple of Los Angeles-based internet forums, and asked various SoCal residents about their thoughts on the DT stadium proposal from AEG.

One San Diego resident commented:



One Thousand Oaks resident commented:



One Pasadena resident commented:



One IE resident commented:



One Long Beach resident commented:



And one OC resident commented:



Do you guys think these residents' opinions hold any water?

none whatsoever. none of these people have any idea of what they are talking about. seriously. the Burbank one is the funniest. Burbank hardly approves two story commercial buildings, let alone a football stadium.

[Western87]

any news on when we might get some proposal renderings? I can't wait to see the possible new stadium designs

[Jericho-79]

Originally Posted by Western87

any news on when we might get some proposal renderings? I can't wait to see the possible new stadium designs

No news yet. But the view of the new stadium from 110 should look like this:

[duma187]

i seriously hope they go the route of Reliant and Phoenix stadiums and have a roof that lets light through. If its like Lucas Oil Stadium it would be a disaster! just look at how dark it is inside that place...






But something about a domed stadium in LA just seems wrong. And i seriously hope their is natural grass at this field and not turf.

[carnifex2005]

Originally Posted by duma187

i seriously hope they go the route of Reliant and Phoenix stadiums and have a roof that lets light through. If its like Lucas Oil Stadium it would be a disaster! just look at how dark it is inside that place...

But something about a domed stadium in LA just seems wrong. And i seriously hope their is natural grass at this field and not turf.

Casey Wasserman, one of the principals on the downtown stadium proposal, was on the BS Report earlier this week talking about the stadium (starts at 44:35) and why the proposal will work. He mentioned that the retractable roof will be just enough to cover up during a convention and won't be very substantial. I could easily see something along the lines of BC Place's new roof. Below is a pic of the same style roof in Frankfurt.

[Marckymarc]

Originally Posted by duma187

i seriously hope they go the route of Reliant and Phoenix stadiums and have a roof that lets light through. If its like Lucas Oil Stadium it would be a disaster! just look at how dark it is inside that place...






But something about a domed stadium in LA just seems wrong. And i seriously hope their is natural grass at this field and not turf.

I hope you're right and thinking you probably are. In Indy you need a heavy roof because of the nasty winter snowfall, but in Phoenix, Houston and L.A. that isn't an issue, so you could and should go with a much "lighter" roof. The winters in L.A. are mild and mostly sunny, so most NFL games would be played with it open.

[madhuckfinn]

Originally Posted by carnifex2005

Casey Wasserman, one of the principals on the downtown stadium proposal, was on the BS Report earlier this week talking about the stadium (starts at 44:35) and why the proposal will work. He mentioned that the retractable roof will be just enough to cover up during a convention and won't be very substantial. I could easily see something along the lines of BC Place's new roof. Below is a pic of the same style roof in Frankfurt.

I'm all in favor of going retractable if it means the stadium can host multiple events and be viable convention space, but the BC Place and Frankfurt domes are more substantial than I'd like to see in an LA football stadium. We're gifted with some of the best weather in the world after all.

The dome would almost never be closed for football games, so it makes sense to have a design plan with a dome that is fully retractable, not simply a roof with a close-able center. The Minneapolis proposals look very nice.

[Jericho-79]

Originally Posted by pesto

Silicon Valley maybe, but Japan or Korea more likely. That close to Ktown (which is expanding toward DT and USC) and the new Grand development (which I assume will have Korean Air signage) would make Hyundai or Samsung a natural.

If that will be the case, I've come up with a few naming rights proposals:

Hyundai Stadium
Kia Stadium
Mitsubishi Stadium
Nikon Field
Sony Field

Which one has a nice ring to it?

[1772]

Originally Posted by KingmanIII

They can build a stadium in downtown L.A. for $725 mil?

That can't include land acquisition and infrastructure costs...

Well, they already own the land, so...