Anaheim to Unveil Sports Complex Plans

After almost a year of planning, city officials today will unveil their vision for the sports and entertainment complex they hope to build on 159 acres around Anaheim Stadium.

Blueprints for the complex, unofficially dubbed SportsTown, call for the land to be divided into five themed areas that would include shops, hotels, office space, a parking structure and trendy restaurants, city officials said Tuesday.

The plans--the subject of much speculation--leave room for construction of a new football stadium to be built next to Anaheim Stadium, which likely will be converted back to a baseball-only facility.

“This will be as good as when Disneyland came to the city in the 1950s,” said Councilman Bob Zemel. “I think it’s cutting edge. I think it’s going to be beautiful. It will be a real opportunity for a tourist who comes to Disneyland to stay an extra day or two.”

The stadium plan, Zemel said, will help the city land a new National Football League team to replace the Rams, which left last year for St. Louis.

“It’s a fabulous opportunity for any NFL team,” Zemel said. “I think the NFL owners will have their mouths watering.”

Anaheim officials have not revealed how much the development will cost to build or how much revenue it might generate for the city. The project is expected to bring many new jobs to the city, but officials have not been specific.

Zemel and other city leaders stress that the project cannot be built without financial support from the private sector. It is not known how involved Walt Disney Co., which purchased 25% of the California Angels last year, will be in the project, although Disney officials have sat in on some planning meetings.

“We’re ready any time someone wants to come forward,” said Councilman Lou Lopez. “We want people to know that we’re open for business and want to develop that area.”

The development plan, which still must be approved by the City Council, will also provide a way to link the stadium with The Pond, situated a quarter mile away, officials said.

“Anaheim Stadium and The Pond are Orange County landmarks,” said Mayor Tom Daly. “This new vision is designed to take advantage of the unmatched location, visibility and convenience of the site.”

City officials have so far been tight-lipped about details of the project, mainly because they were waiting to resolve a 12-year legal dispute over the property. Last month, the city agreed to pay $13 million for development rights to 68 acres of stadium property that the city granted the Rams as part of the deal to lure the team to Anaheim in 1978.

The SportsTown complex has been designed by Jerde Partnership Inc., the firm responsible for designing the popular CityWalk in Universal City. The Venice-based urban design firm was among seven companies that worked on different aspects of the design phase under the supervision of the Spectrum Group, an Irvine-based consulting firm headed by former Santa Ana Mayor Daniel H. Young.

Young will be among those at a scheduled news conference today announcing the plans. Also attending will be about 100 government, business and community leaders, including representatives from Walt Disney Co. and the California Angels, city officials said.