THE TERMINATOR IS AT IT!!!!!

[Jim Uran]

Quote:

INDUSTRY, Calif. (AP)—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday he had signed a bill allowing the construction of a 75,000-seat stadium that developers hope will lure an NFL team back to the Los Angeles area.

Schwarzenegger said he signed the environmental exemption bill last week but saved the announcement for a press conference in Industry, where the stadium would be built about 15 miles east of Los Angeles.

The bill would nullify a lawsuit filed by residents in nearby Walnut over the project’s environmental impact.

Schwarzenegger called the lawsuit frivolous as he addressed a crowd of union members wearing hardhats. Across the street, a dozen protesters held signs saying “No Stadium.”

“This is the best kind of action state government can create—action that cuts red tape, generates jobs, is environmentally friendly and brings a continued economic boost to California,” Schwarzenegger said.

Majestic Realty Co. is heading the stadium project after helping develop Staples Center, the downtown Los Angeles home of the NBA’s Lakers and Clippers and the NHL’s Kings.

Majestic has targeted seven teams as candidates to move to the Los Angeles area: the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.

The firm has said the teams are in stadiums that are either too small or can’t be updated with luxury box seats or other revenue sources an NFL club needs to thrive.

Schwarzenegger said the stadium would generate more than 18,000 jobs.

Majestic guaranteed parking lot attendants and concession stand workers would be paid middle-class wages, said Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

“This is true economic development,” Durazo said. “It’s going to benefit everyone in our community.”

[CJH]

My bet is either the Chargers, Raiders, or Jags. They are in much worse shape than the Vikes. Plus, you obviously have the built in fan base already there for the Chargers and Raiders.

[koonie]

Why have a team there. They have failed miserably each and every time.

[zamboni]

Instead of putting one city/state out, they should just do another expansion. Give LA and Vegas each a team. I can't get over the fastest growing city in America has absolutely no pro sports

[Big Dave2]

Why have a team there. They have failed miserably each and every time.

I wonder why that is? They have a HUGE market.

[Swimbait2009]

Not sure, but maybe the Lakers draw too much attention these days to support a NFL team as well as baseball. There aren't many markets where more than a couple sports are REALLY successful, and with property/labor costs so high in Cali it may be very difficult to make it profitable.

[norm25]

I do hope the vikings leave. Then I will be able to watch the Packers every weekend!!!!

[glenn57]

norm, your a really sick man!

[RumRiverRat]

OH NOES!!!!!!

The Vikes are going to move!!!!!!!1111111111oneoneexclamationpoint

[JBMasterAngler]

Vikes were supposed to move to san antonio about 10 years ago too, and that never happened.

L.A. is just not a pro football town! And the best part about it is the only people that DON'T want a team there is the people that LIVE in L.A.! They have usc and ucla football, what the heck to they want the nfl for?

[Getanet]

I'm sure the Vikings are hoping this makes legislators/fans nervous that we're going to loose them, but the fact that they are looking at 7 teams makes me feel better. Nearly 1/4 off all the teams in the league are a potential targets...

[LMITOUT]

You know what is the best part of the new stadium in California, or any team stadium built in California?? No tax dollars are used to build them!!!!!!!!!! If a team owner wants a new stadium, then they have to raise the money themselves to pay for it. Gee, what a concept!

Cali doesn't play those games with taxpayer's money and it's a shame that they don't follow that same policy here. Instead, the team owners will continue begging the MN legislature for more public money and the weasels will give it to them.

[CRAZYEYES]

I think that the trend of teams holding cities hostage to buy them stadiums is pretty rediculous. They dont build facilites for any other for profit companies that do a lot more good than the vikings. Sad enough that we bought one for the twins with tax money. The twins should have to give free tickets for the first year to the tax payers that bought it for them. I love sports but the state has a lot more pressing issues thn stadiums for rich guys sports teams. Also when did they all of a sudden need outdoor ball? Did'nt they moan 30 years ago about needing a roof?