BY GLENN FREEMAN
Architect’s model of the proposed NFL stadium in the City of Industry. (Photo Courtesy: http://www.losangelesfootballstadium.com)
City of Industry – In early 2008, the NFL proposed a new stadium coming to Southern California, slated for the City of Industry. Now, six years later, we seem to be no further along in the process.
In April of 2008, Ed Roski, Jr., the billionaire head of Majestic Realty Co., announced his plans for the $800 million, 75,000 seat stadium, to be constructed off Grand Avenue near the interchange of the 60 and 57 freeways. The location seems ideal for its centralized access to 15.5 million people across four counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino.
Roski’s plan to bring an NFL team back to greater Los Angeles was contingent upon receiving the necessary approvals. After 20 years without a team, the NFL appears to be no closer to returning to Los Angeles other than saying they would like to. Perhaps Commissioner Roger Goodell has his hands full with the recent public relations crisis centered on player domestic/child abuse allegations.
In recent queries to the City of Industry, Senior Planner, Troy Helling, stated that the only actions proceeding on the 600 acre site at this time are the mass grading, landscaping, and installation of the major infrastructure, as part of the former Redevelopment Agency’s obligations – as the State dissolved all such agencies.
“This will in essence create a table top onto which one of two approved projects will be developed in the future [the NFL stadium, and industrial/commercial use],” said Helling.
Local fans will have to continue to focus on their television screens, or travel to Phoenix, the Bay area or San Diego to get a taste of live action football.
