The city will release a report Tuesday that shows how a stadium would benefit the area around Angel Stadium.
The Orange County Register - Friday, May 6, 2005
Sarah Tully and Michael Lev
ANAHEIM City officials next week will reveal why they believe Anaheim outshines its Los Angeles-area competitors for an NFL team, as owners gear up to choose a site as early as this month.
On Tuesday, the city plans to release a report showing how an NFL stadium would benefit the Platinum Triangle, an area around Angel Stadium that the city is touting as Orange County's downtown with new high-rise housing, shops and restaurants.
But the study also will show how the area can thrive without a stadium.
"An NFL stadium would be a welcome addition, but not a necessary addition," said John Nicoletti, the city's spokesman.
The report comes just a few weeks before NFL owners could select a site among four options -- Anaheim, Los Angeles, Pasadena and Carson. The owners are set to meet May 24-25 in Washington D.C., where they plan to at least narrow the field.
Anaheim officials have said they might move forward with other plans for the proposed city-owned site next to Angel Stadium, if the league fails to make a decision this month.
"We want our residents, businesses and taxpayers of Anaheim to know we've been thoughtful in pursuit of this stadium," Nicoletti said. "It's an opportunity for us to show all we believe we have to offer in the Platinum Triangle to builders and potential developers, including the NFL."
Tuesday's study will show the economic impact of the stadium and how it connects with a transportation hub, the Disneyland Resort and other businesses.
"Part of what we want to show is the strength of the Anaheim site goes far beyond where you play football. It's the economic benefit that the NFL will receive and others will receive right here in Anaheim," Mayor Curt Pringle said.
Although the NFL has tried to keep as much information as possible about the negotiations in-house -- especially regarding specific terms -- the league signed off on Anaheim's public announcement.
Anaheim's report will not reveal specifics about the stadium site and finances, which are part of private negotiations.
"We didn't have any objections," said Neil Glat, the NFL's point man on the L.A. negotiations, by phone from New York.
"I view it as an additional indication of their seriousness. ... It's just another positive indication that the city is trying to get something done with us."
Glat said next week's report does not affect Anaheim's standing with the league. It remains one of the four competitors, though most analysts and people familiar with the L.A. situation place it second behind the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.
"I wouldn't view this as the NFL sanctioning Anaheim or that any site has moved up or moved down," Glat said.
Glat said Anaheim's decision to make a public disclosure now has more to do with the impending league owners meeting than a tangible increased effort on the city's part.
"With any deadline, there's a lot of hurrying up and work that gets done near the end," Glat said.
"There's a lot more activity going on. When an owners meeting is coming, we're cranking a lot of work out, and we're seeing more work out of our counterparts that we're negotiating with."
Pasadena also will make some of its plans public Monday when the Environmental Impact Report for a refurbished Rose Bowl is presented to the city council for certification.
Anaheim and the Coliseum have completed their EIRs. Carson's is not expected to be finished until December.
All four sites met with NFL negotiators, led by Glat, this week in Southern California.
(714) 704-3793 or stully@ocregister.com