Rebuilding the Coliseum for the L.A. Raiders

I am very surprised and concerned that The Times does not take a more aggressive stand and role in the rebuilding or replacement of the Sports Arena and Coliseum.

The Clippers and Raiders are assets to the Los Angeles economic base, as are any major league franchises. Both should be the prime catalyst for the development of state-of-the-art facilities that can accommodate numerous other community events and attractions. Of even more importance is the economic, physical and psychological impact that a well-coordinated development of the Coliseum area and its surrounding environs could have on a section of our community that deserves immediate attention.

The benefits to private and quasi-private interests such as the teams, USC, MCA, etc., should be sufficient to establish a public-private partnership that would create substantial long-term benefits for the entire community.

Egos should be set aside. If either or both teams leave, their replacement will be just as costly and take many years to accomplish.

It is hard to imagine that our community cannot retain and enhance two major league franchises, thereby benefiting from the positive impact they provide.

LEWIS N. WOLFF

Los Angeles

The writer has an ownership interest in the Golden State Warriors basketball team and the St. Louis Blues hockey team.