Coliseum GM says NFL serious about Los Angeles

Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The general manager of the Los Angeles Coliseum expressed optimism Thursday concerning the possibility of an NFL franchise playing there in four years.

The NFL has expressed its desire to have a franchise in this area in 2008 or 2009, with the Coliseum a candidate along with the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and sites in Anaheim, Carson and perhaps El Toro where stadiums would have to be built.

"The NFL is really intent on getting something done in Los Angeles," Pat Lynch said at a luncheon involving the business of sports in Los Angeles. "We're talking all the time. We're very hopeful. We think we're making decent progress.

"We're far down the road in all respects. They'll be going through their process. Right now, we're just happy to be going through the process rather than being on the outside looking in."

The Los Angeles area has been without an NFL franchise since the Raiders left the Coliseum to return to Oakland and the Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis before the 1995 season.

Lynch said a stadium at the Coliseum would be brand new -- not a refurbishment -- and that the NFL would foot the bill.

Los Angeles competed with Houston for an NFL expansion team in 1999 that began play three years later. Houston won by coming up with more money and a united front.

"We're going down the home stretch. They want to have a term sheet completed by the middle of October," Lynch said adding that the NFL wants to make a decision on a venue by next May and begin playing here in 2008.

Anaheim officials said last month they had been approached by the NFL about a possible facility near Angel Stadium.

Shockey felt the new offense was making him block too much, and it had him in motion so much he was tired before the snap.