Farmers Field: LA Neighbors United Takes Out Full-Page 'Times' Ad to Question Wisdom of Downtown L.A. NFL Stadium Plans

By Dennis Romero Tue., Mar. 1 2011 at 5:15 PM

Dennis Romero

Mayor Villaraigosa is all for Farmers Field.

Update: AEG says it's being straight-up, after the jump.

A full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday asks why City Hall should support a proposed downtown NFL stadium at a time when so many of L.A.'s services have been cut because of a lack of cash.

The venue, proposed by the owners of Staples Center, would put a $1 billion-plus "Farmers Field" stadium at the city-owned Convention Center. Anschutz Entertainment Group has promised that no public money would be used.

Here's what the ad by LA Neighbors United states:

While the Mayor pitches a new stadium, our beloved city continues to decline ... Make no mistake, when a private developer wants to invest more than a billion dollars in our city, it's a good day for Los Angeles. A compact, environmentally friendly stadium downtown has the potential to be a great community benefit for the people of LA. But will it be a boon or a boondoggle? It's still not clear ...

It asks:

-Where is objective evidence that there's demand for the new event center and convention hall, beyond a salesman's assertion that if we build it, they will come?
-If demand for the new facilities is so certain, why isn't the developer offering to own, operate and privately finance the whole complex?

-How much will the developer be paid to construct the new convention hall and parking
garages?

-Who will pay the tab in the years when the new convention hall runs an operating deficit? If the team leaves town before the bonds are retired?

(Another question: Why are we giving LA Neighbors United a free ad when it just paid five figures to take out a full page in the Times' A section? Dunno. We kid).

AEG chief Tim Leiweke has said that although the projected would need $350 million in public bonds all of it would paid back through revenues generated at the venue and that the company would pay up if that income didn't cover the costs.

The company would need to tear down the old West Hall at the Convention Center and has planned to build new convention space as part of the deal.

We have a call into AEG for its reaction to this.

Update: AEG responds:

We continue to be in favor of a transparent process to develop the Entertainment Center and strongly believe that the people of Los Angeles have the right to know the details of our proposal. It remains our desire that there be a comprehensive and thorough review of all aspects of our plan.
We are confident that at the end of this process, the city and its stakeholders will discover that there are no hidden secrets or agendas and we continue to stand behind our commitment of developing an Event Center and Stadium at no cost and no risk to the tax payers.

First posted at 4:06 p.m.

Tags:

City Hall, development, Farmers Field, LA Neighbors United, NFL, stadium

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Norm Authier

Build it in Irwindale or City of Industry, not downtown La.

Cawilliams32

I was born and raised in Los Angeles but I have to say that some of my fellow resedents embarras me with there un educated communications. If you don't support the development on its merrit I can respect that but when you conjure up issues just for the sake of causing fear you are an idiot!! For those of you that love this city do you remember the area prior to Staples and LALive? Have you even experienced the area since its been developed? If you have then you like myself would thank AEG! Are they making money? Absolutely...they deserve too...but guess what, I saw a lot of people employed and making a honest living when I was down at LALive....some that wouldn't be working had it not been for this development. Lastly I ask...what do you think will help Los Angeles improve our economic challenges? If you are not at least considering major development, you are not trully being honest with yourself. Our city leaders need to protect our interests and encourage the private sector to invest in our community.

ScorpionLeather

AEG is hoping that no one will notice that they are trying to lobby state legislators to get out of road imrovements that an Environmental Impact Report might raise... so AEG could dump tens of thousands of fans onto the crumbling, already jammed streets and freeways without paying a penny to make any improvements to those streets. The local community should not let them get away with this. Otherwise who's going to pay for those extra lanes to the 5, 101, 10, and 110 freeways which could cost billions in the most heavily congested interchange in the world.

anonymous

I've subscribed to LA Times for over 30 years, but the idiots don't include LA Neighbors ad in all the areas. I live in Pasadena and am very much affected by the AEG stadium's additional traffic on the 110 freeway. We'll assemble a coalition to oppose this project. Downtown LA and its uses affect places far from it and we expect the EIR to take a regional perspective on traffic issues.

Robert

Thanks LA Weekly. I don't know of anyone and I know a hell of a lot of people in this city that support this AEG NFL Stadium. Why is it that anytime Tim Lieweke and AEG want something from the City idiots like the Mayor, Jan Perry and all the clowns on council bow to them. I agree with LA Neighbors it is not the time to build a stadium when as reported in LA Biz Journal since 2009 400,000 people have lost their jobs. If LA has over 12% unemployment rate who do they think will afford to fill this stadium the birds?