User:Wes1579/Proposed Los Angeles NFL stadiums

Rose Bowl Stadium (2003)
The Rose Bowl was actually a proposed site for an NFL relocation or even an expansion team to Los Angeles. In 2003, architects proposed a $500 million renovation to the Rose Bowl Stadium in order to meet the needs of an NFL team, but also appease the residents of Pasadena. This charge was led by John Moag, an investment banker who had already helped immensely in relocating the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Los Angeles had been without a team since 1994, but with the second best TV market in the nation, the NFL was eyeing bringing a team back. The renovation would take a minimum of 23 months and would focus on renovating the interior of the stadium. While the outer shell would stay the same, the capacity would drop from 92,000 people to 68,000 people (although retaining the ability to expand to 75,000 people). Most of the historical and culturally important aspects of the stadium, such as the marquee outside, would stay.

Despite this proposal, the Pasadena residents were not on board. The traffic and parking issues that would come with this new team would be tremendously difficult. Furthermore, they worry about losing their neighborhood stadium to the NFL, a valid concern. Regarding the proposed underground parking, one resident reported “‘That’s ridiculous that they can build underground parking in a streambed. It’s inappropriate, it’s far too expensive, and it just isn’t going to work’”. The President of the Tournament of Roses at the time, Mitch Dorger, stated that “‘We’re very interested in maintaining a viable venue for our game. We would like to see a proposal that finds a way to do that’”. Based on the residents of the neighborhood and the Tournament of Roses committee, the main reason for not wanting the new NFL stadium was the disturbance to both the neighborhood and the historical and cultural values of the stadium and area.

Furthermore, the Rose Bowl decided against hosting even a temporary NFL team in 2015 due to attempts at establishing a music and arts festival. Other contenders for this temporary site were the Los Angeles Coliseum, Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium, and StubHub Center.