Let the games begin!

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aeg-20110202,0,7964050.story

Raiders, 49ers, Chargers, Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, Kings, Angels, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, A’s, Ducks, Kings, and Sharks. (I assume there are more I’m missing)

Not to mention all the FAILED franchises.
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The 3 main sports leagues that are followed in America are (not in particular order) the NFL, MLB, and the NBA… In your list of “FAILED franchises” you just named 2 of those 3 sports reigning champions… If winning is failing, then we love failing out here in Cali.

Or the fact that the Vikings have been looking at three downtown minneapolis sites, one in Brooklyn center, and the Arden Hills site, yes, the Vikings could move… to a different site in Minnesota.

Or the fact even Rodger Godell has met with Dayton, toured the metrodome before the TCF Bank game, and has said he wants to keep the tradition of the Vikings in Minnesota and the NFL rivalries in the North. Even Godell has publicly spoken on wanting the Vikings case resolved in Minnesota.

Or the fact LA Stadium luring Liewkie and AEG have Publicly said they have spoken with the Vikings and understand the team wants to stay in Minnesota and has said ‘no thanks’ to LA.

Keep dreaming LA-Viking wanna-be’s, we’re keeping our team. Jacksonville is keeping theirs, no way the NFL lets the Bills leave Buffalo. I’d worry Charger fans.

If only the Chargers and the city could reach a mutual agreement to build a new stadium here in SD!

You make great points, and are obviously better tied into the local area than I.

Taking a more macro view of the situation, I would put Anschutz closer to Roski than you do, for a couple of reasons:

1) Whichever of these stadiums get built, they will be built in vein of the new Cowboys stadium, which features over 300 suites. I think the type of people they will be looking for to fill those suites would be much more attracted to a downtown stadium than one in COI.

2) I feel fairly certain that Roger Goodell would rather have a team downtown. Just seems to fit much better with his overall vision. He could exert enormous pressure on owners not to do a deal with Roski, and let it be known through channels that only a downtown stadium gets a Super Bowl.

Facts as they currently stand may favor Roski, but if I were an investor and both these guys were pitching me right now, my gut would still say to go in with Anschutz.

“I agree that Roski is ahead right now. But that’s kind of like saying a golfer that is in the clubhouse at -5 is “ahead” of Phil Mickleson who is only -4 under but has three par 5′s still left to play.”

Well your analogy is not exactly accurate. It is more like a golfer is in the clubhouse at -5 and Phil is making the turn at -1.

Remember Anschutz still has to convince the city it won’t cost them a thing, get them to agree to tear down the West Hall of the CCenter, get an EIR approved, avoid any lawsuits because of the EIR or get legislative exemption. Long way to go and still plenty of landmines to avoid.

“It’s possible the other guy could win, but who are you betting on?”

It is more like, ‘it is still possible AEG will win’. Right now Roski has the upper hand. If he can convince a team to move to his stadium before AEG can get any of the previously mentioned approvals, his stadium will get built first. Whoever wins is immaterial to me.

This naming rights deal just proves the power of the LA market, which is a win for all of us LA NFL fans.

“Only California would beleive they deserve another professional sports franchise.”

Californians don’t believe they deserve anything from professional sports.

However, as a business, it is very hard to argue with 37 million potential customers. As Roski likes to point out, draw a 30 mile circle from the Industry stadium site and in that circle 1 out of every 19 people in the US lives there. That makes LA a very attractive proposition.

“Not to mention all the FAILED franchises.”

The failed franchise argument is interesting. What makes a failed franchise? Is it because they moved?

I agree that Roski is ahead right now.

But that’s kind of like saying a golfer that is in the clubhouse at -5 is “ahead” of Phil Mickleson who is only -4 under but has three par 5′s still left to play.

It’s possible the other guy could win, but who are you betting on?

A lot of people live here and a lot of us want the NFL back. Many of us were also under the age of 14 when the Raiders and Rams left, and really weren’t in any position to spend money to keep out teams here.

Regardless of what you experts think, we want the NFL here, and it will be supported.

Raiders, 49ers, Chargers, Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, Kings, Angels, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, A’s, Ducks, Kings, and Sharks. (I assume there are more I’m missing)

Not to mention all the FAILED franchises.

“There will be a new stadium and convention center in downtown LA, so everyone should just get their heads around that.”

I think the Roski initiative is still ahead of Anschutz because the Industry site has all the approvals in place.

But if AEG gets those approvals it is over.

“Bottom line-LA has NEVER supported, long-term an NFL franchise….”

Yeah the Rams were only in town for 48 years. What do you consider “long term”?

Bottom line-LA has NEVER supported, long-term an NFL franchise….2 teams have alreday tried and failed….one to ST Louis and the other back to Oakland……LA just needs to make movies…..

I’m a big Vikes fan and have been since my childhood in the 60′s. I live in New York and would love to see the team move to a state that would back them. L.A. Vikings has a nice ring to it. Looking forward to going to one game a year in Cali! My daughter has become a Vikes fan, I tell her “get ready for a life of misery and almosts”. Feel bad that I pushed the kids into being Vikes fans, but maybe their luck will change in a different state. I’m married to the team not the state.