Businesses Hoping to Lure Sports Team

Although they concede they have an uphill battle, leaders of an areawide association of businesses say they will attempt to lure a professional sports franchise to the San Fernando Valley.

“We’re going to get in touch with the Los Angeles Kings, the Los Angeles Rams and probably the Los Angeles Clippers, as well,” said Bob Scott, president of the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, which represents 21 local chambers and about 7,600 merchants.

The group currently is searching for locations to build a major entertainment and sports complex in the Valley.

“Because we’re losing business, we think a good entertainment and sporting complex is something the Valley needs to create jobs,” Scott said.

Although the group has no funding to build such a complex, leaders of the group say that now is the time to reach out to local teams that are considering a move from their current stadiums.

But since his group has a late start attracting the teams, Scott conceded that his group faces “an uphill battle” in gaining a stadium for a professional franchise.

Earlier this month, the Rams said they might use the escape clause in their lease at Anaheim Stadium to relocate the franchise.

The Kings, who currently play at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, intend to build a new, 20,000-capacity arena in Southern California, perhaps to be shared by the Clippers, who are looking to leave the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Among local choices for the teams, Pasadena’s Rose Bowl recently has been touted as a site for the Rams and Burbank has been mentioned as a site for a new stadium for the Clippers.

Scott said the Valley has several sites, including the former General Motors plant in Van Nuys, that would be appropriate for the complex.

The chamber association will go to work identifying other sites, and Scott said he would like to use his influence as a planning commissioner for the city of Los Angeles to help expedite the site selection process.