Photo Courtesy: Google Images

By Claire Lewis

Carson – So, no NFL teams in the Los Angeles area for nigh on 20 years, and now there could possibly be two stadiums housing four teams.  How could this be possible?

On Tues., Apr. 21, in a move that mimicked what the city of Inglewood did this past February, Carson’s City Council voted 3-0 to approve a $1.7 billion stadium that will reportedly house the Chargers and the Raiders.  And, like Inglewood, Carson’s council did so without consideration of a public vote.

Although 15,000 plan supporters signed the initiative (in only eight days) in favor of the stadium, perhaps the public vote is obvious.  News reports say that NFL fans dressed in team jerseys crowded into Carson’s council chambers to applaud the news.

Not to put the cart before the horse, but little things like money, timelines, land use, taxes, developers, designs, and much more, will need to be worked out.  The initiative reportedly says no tax dollars will be used for the long-vacant 168-acre parcel along the 405 Freeway (which is apparently a former landfill under environmental refurbishment at this time). Carson has released a report with few details.

While Goldman Sachs will lead the investment part of the project, the City says, “The difference between making and losing money hinges on $1.4 million a year in federal housing funds the city could lose if room can’t be found elsewhere for more than 1,500 housing units that were originally planned for the stadium site.”

Meanwhile, on Jan. 5, Rams’ owner, Stan Kroenke, announced his plans to incorporate an 80,000-seat sports stadium into a multipurpose entertainment venue on the former Hollywood Park racetrack site.  Shortly thereafter the Inglewood City Council approved the $1.86 billion stadium, perhaps coaxing the St. Louis Rams, as well as another team, to return to Los Angeles.

Officials from Hollywood Park Land Company say the proposed stadium will come to fruition whether an NFL team makes the move to the Greater Los Angeles area, or not.  Kroenke’s venture does not guarantee anything.  It could mean a move for the Rams or simply a capital venture for billionaire Kroenke.

While NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, previously said that the league would not support a team relocation for the 2015 season, it seems a bit of a moot point since a project of this magnitude wouldn’t be completed until the 2016, or even 2017 season.  Mayhap a bright, shiny, new stadium – or two – will change his mind.

NFL stadium ventures in the Los Angeles area have come and gone in the past.  Now it looks like we have approval for two of them.  The How, Who and When remain to be seen.