LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — AEG CEO Tim Lieweke and businessman Casey Wasserman are interested in reviving plans to build an NFL stadium in Los Angeles.
The plan would see a brand new NFL stadium built on land near the AEG-owned and operated Staples Center in downtown L.A., the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.
This isn't the first time that AEG has flirted with the idea of returning the NFL to Los Angeles. Leiweke was part of a group that worked on an unsuccessful bid to build a stadium in L.A. in 2002.
Leiweke's plan would also put him up against billionaire Ed Roski Jr., who is working on separate plan to build an NFL stadium in the city. Roski is a part owner of both the Kings and Lakers, and was a part of the team that built the Staples Center which serves as a home for both teams and an anchor for AEG's Los Angeles operations. Roski already has approval from California to build a stadium and has been in negotiation with several NFL teams since January, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune said.
While it might seem like Roski's efforts might have a significant lead on Leiweke's plan, ongoing labor negotiations between the NFL and players will likely mean at least a year will pass before Roski can move forward. Additionally, AEG's proposed location may prove more attractive to a team.
"It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, given a choice with equal situations, that the NFL would prefer downtown LA," sports consultant Marc Ganis told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "It's a sexier location." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
