Los Angeles, America's second biggest city, is planning the construction of a massive downtown stadium to attract an NFL team. The 72,000-seat stadium can adversely impact the freeway traffic, nearby housing costs and also air quality.
The project is estimated at $1.5 billion following a 12-0 vote by the City Council. There were predictions that professional football would return to California since 1994 when the Raiders and Rams left it.
Supporters of the project say that the deal would create thousands of jobs. But there are critics who fear that nearby housing prices might soar. They also fear that it would cause massive traffic jams on the freeway on game days.
The Associated press reported Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as saying after the vote: "What we can accomplish when the city family joins together with private partners in a transformational development. This is truly a game changer for Los Angeles."
A recent announcement by developer Anschutz Entertainment Group that it was seeking a new owner overshadowed the vote but the City Hall has been assured that the plans for the stadium would remain unchanged.
It is a fact that since 1995, Los Angeles has been by far the largest U.S. market without an NFL team. The Democratic mayor and other supporters, however, are hopeful that the project will attract a team or two.
The project has to overcome a few obstacles. Several activists, especially, anti-poverty and other environmental activists are objecting to the construction of the 70,000-seat venue in downtown Los Angeles. They have, in fact, filed a lawsuit against the proposed project, which might delay plans for the stadium.
Play Fair at Farmers Field Coalition - an activist group - have demanded AEG to make a payment of $60 million for affordable housing in the downtown area.
Los Angeles is a city where almost everyone drives. Planners, therefore, predict that people will be forced to travel by buses or rail leaving their vehicles at home. There are several other risky assumptions that planners are making.
Majestic Realty which is a rival group, has proposed building a stadium on the outskirts of Los Angeles, in the City of Industry.
While developer Anschutz Entertainment Group hopes to see an NFL team in the stadium by 2017. AEG has also promised $35 million to resolve traffic issues in the surrounding areas.
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