There’s an emerging chance that Jerry Jones and the Cowboys will enjoy the premier football venue in the world for only a decade or so. Maybe less.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reports that the proposed downtown Los Angeles Stadium would come with a lid. Not only would that feature distinguish the idea from every other plan that has been floated for a new L.A. stadium, but it also would create a multi-use facility that could host events like the Final Four, conventions, and major boxing/MMA/wrestling cards.
Casey Wasserman approached Tim Leiweke of AEG with the idea in October 2009, and it has progressed from there.
“This is the final piece to the downtown puzzle,” Wasserman told Farmer. “It’s the only chance for the city to benefit from the economic power of a stadium of this caliber.”
The vision for the facility also includes hosting the NFL draft in a rotation with New York, hosting the Scouting Combine in a rotation with Indianapolis, and hosting the finals of the 2022 World Cup. And, of course, staging multiple Pro Bowls and Super Bowls.
Our pal Brooks, who has plenty of sources in that neck of the woods, explains that the political landscape has changed dramatically since Leiweke and Wasserman attempted to put together a downtown stadium eight years ago. Between Staples Center, L.A. Live, and a new 1,000-room hotel, Leiweke and his Anschutz Entertainment Group have made things happen in Los Angeles, giving them plenty of juice moving forward.
So, suddenly and almost out of the blue, an incredibly viable and intriguing project has emerged.
To the immediate dismay of Ed Roski -- and possibly the eventual chagrin of Jerry Jones.