New home of the Vikings

[IFallsRon]

INDUSTRY, Calif. (AP) - The city of Industry approved a settlement Thursday with a neighboring city that had opposed plans for an $800 million NFL stadium, clearing a hurdle in efforts to bring a pro football team to the Los Angeles area.

The deal approved unanimously by the Industry City Council grants the city of Walnut $9 million, an annual cash payment of up to $500,000 and other concessions, Industry City Manager Kevin Radecki said.

"We are extremely pleased that the city of Walnut, the city of Industry and the developer have been able to reach an agreement for this project that will create jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of economic benefits for this region," Industry Mayor David Perez said in a joint statement with Walnut officials.

Walnut council members, who had claimed in the city's lawsuit that Industry approved the project without sufficiently reviewing its environmental impact, had voted 3-to-1 to approve the deal Tuesday.

The deal also requires developers to pay for noise monitoring around the stadium and prohibits loud events after 10 p.m.

Walnut Mayor Mary Su said in the statement that negotiations "achieved a settlement that contains important mitigations and protections for citizens of Walnut."

The agreement was reached during negotiations mandated by the Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, who postponed a vote on a bill last week that would have granted the 75,000-seat venue an environmental exemption and let its construction move forward.

The Assembly approved the plan amid lobbying by stadium developer Majestic Realty Co. and labor union officials who argued that the venue's construction and operation would bring jobs to the region suffering from high unemployment.

Walnut Councilman Joaquin Lim, who had voted no on the deal, criticized state legislators for bending to the developer's wishes by interfering with the ongoing legal proceedings.

"It's a sad day, not just for Walnut, not just for the region, but for the entire state of California," he said. "It really states a terrible precedent for the future."

Meanwhile, members of a Walnut citizens' group that had filed a separate lawsuit over the stadium said their talks with Industry and developer Majestic Realty Co. broke down with no settlement agreement Wednesday.

Group member Bridget Bjerke said its negotiating partners were being inflexible.

"It was pretty much giving us these little teeny things, but the main areas of our concern which we brought up in our lawsuit — the quality of life issues of traffic noise, safety and water — for the most part they said, 'Nope, we can't do that."

John Van de Kamp, a former California attorney general who served as the talks' mediator, said confidentiality agreements bar him from discussing specifics behind the breakdown.

But he said he believed the agreement with the city of Walnut addressed many of their concerns over impacts such as traffic and light from the venue.

Steinberg spokesman Jim Evans said that the state Senate would likely vote on the environmental waiver for the project if no settlement is reached, but that no vote would take place until the chamber reconvenes in mid-October.

Majestic managing partner John Semcken said he remains hopeful for some agreement with the group.

"Hopefully we'll be able to make them happy," he said. "We tried very hard."

He said his company was waiting for all legal hurdles to be cleared before it began contacting teams about moving to the proposed stadium, about 15 miles east of Los Angeles.

[croixflats]

Looks like the timing will be just about right. After things settle down here in Minnesota and it is realised the old timer quarter back wont fulfill what the fans want him to it will be back to disgust and not caring making it easier for the vikings to leave. Just my take on things.

[bassNspear]

i really dont see the vikings moving!

[zepman]

Jacksonville will fill that opening long before the Vikes would. Season long "black-out" for local viewers there with zero games being close to sold out.

Ziggy will get the stadium built one way or another.

[CatchPhotoFilet]

Its all about the $$$. No team stays in any state if they do not make money. Look at the North Stars, left for a market in Dallas, The MPLS Lakers gone to LA, The vikings will too be gone at some point and to that I say good riddens!

[FISHINGURU]

YAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNS

[bassNspear]

vikings are here to stay!

[SledNeck]

Jacksonville or detroit

[Born2Fish]

The Vikings moving is not going to happen. Ziggy will not let it happen, and neither will the state. Mark my words, the Vikings WILL have a new stadium before the lease runs out at the dome.

[LMITOUT]

Mark my words, the Vikings WILL have a new stadium before the lease runs out at the dome.

Baaaahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Sure, why not! Just raise taxes AGAIN. That's solves everything!

Unbelievable....

[Jim Uran]

We all pay taxes, stop whining about it.

The Vikes are here to stay, they are as minnesotan as walleyes.

[BrianLucky13]

Ship the Vikings out of here!!! If it wasnt for #4 most of the games would have been blacked out this year!!! The state has more important things to worry about then building a losing team a brand new stadium!!!

Maybe the state should do something about all the invasive species invading MN waters instead of building a new stadium!! Just my thought!!!

[Jim Uran]

Last time I looked we were on top of the division and on the way to whoopin green bays cheese next week

[chasineyes]

I don't get why taxes would need to be raised to build a stadium. Think of all the income taxes paid to the state on the vikings own players plus everytime another "team" plays in the state they also pay income tax on that days pay/game. OOHHH wait...we've already spent that money on other "social" benefits.

Personally...bye bye. I think I can find other things to do for 4 hours on 8 or 9 sundays.

[LMITOUT]

We all pay taxes, stop whining about it.

Oh really? Gotta love the "We already pay taxes, might as well pay more" attitude.

Good grief. No wonder this state is a mess with thinking like that.

I'm sure they're not stopping any of you from sending in a check right now to Ziggy Wilf for the stadium fund. Step up if you want a new stadium and stop complaining. If you want it, then you pay for it.

There's no place better for a mediocre team than in a mediocre stadium. Why reward lackluster performances with a Taj Mahal? Time to load up the moving trucks at midnight and ship'm south.

[goblueM]

first of all, i can't believe all the negativity about the vikings in this state. they're a pretty solid team

second, they aren't going anywhere, there are several teams that would ship out first

and the lions aren't going anywhere, the Fords own them, they've been in Michigan forever and just had an awesome new stadium built

[BrianLucky13]

Last time I looked we were on top of the division and on the way to whoopin green bays cheese next week

Hey now!!! 2 games into the season and your on top, bla bla bla!! GO PACK!!!

[Jim Uran]

Hey we are on TOP..

LMIT, if you don't like Minnesota, pack up and leave.

[HOT SPOT]

Who cares if your taxes go up a few buck, its been going up ever since obama has been in office and will continue. Maybe the state will get some of that Money that hes wasting.

[BrianLucky13]

If you lose, you owe me a PBR!!!

[HookEmHard84]

I’m with GOBlue, where is the love for you football team people? Last time I checked this site is called fishing MINNESOTA!

Personally I don’t think they are going anywhere, but there is still a small chance and it makes me very nervous. Hopefully, they can just live up to the hype for once, and go deep into the playoffs this year. That will at least help out a little. I will be devastated if the Vikes Leave! I could definitely find other stuff to do on Sundays, but I really don’t want to. Just like someone said earlier, Vikes football is as Minnesotan as the walleye!

Even if you’re a Packer backer, why would you want to see the Vikes leave? So a traditioned rivalry is over? (BTW – CAN NOT WAIT for the Monday night game! Goona be some ticked of cheddar heads when Farve tosses his first TD against them!)

“There's no place better for a mediocre team than in a mediocre stadium. Why reward lackluster performances with a Taj Mahal? Time to load up the moving trucks at midnight and ship'm south.”

Hope you’re not a Twins or Gophers fan, cause the exact same thing could have been said about them.

[BrianLucky13]

Even if you’re a Packer backer, why would you want to see the Vikes leave? So a traditioned rivalry is over?

Yes I live in MN, but I cant stand the Vikings and everything that goes with them. Their fans seem to be more bandwagon fans(not all.) I think the dome is a terrible place to play football. I think the tailgating and the games are boring!! Maybe its cuz I've been to Green Bay a few times and the Viking games are not even close to being as fun. If the Vikings dont get a new stadium I really wouldnt mind seeing them disappear. If they do get a new stadium I think it would sell out every game and would be fun to go watch!!! They need an outside stadium though!!! Around here where I live there is just as many Packer fans as Viking fans.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

Even if you’re a Packer backer, why would you want to see the Vikes leave?

Because we have their 16 year Hall of Fame Legend QB playing for us now...HE/HE!

I'm willing to pay just a few more cents on the dollar for a New state of the Art Football Complex!... to each is own....

[Jim Uran]

Im with GOBlue, where is the love for you football team people? Last time I checked this site is called fishing MINNESOTA!

AMEN!!!!!

It's no wonder why people think the Viking fans are flakes..

Brian, I'll buy you 6 PBR's if the Packers win. But, that isn't going to happen.

[BrianLucky13]

If you are so sure maybe we should make it a case of pounders???lol