City Council Joins Search for Pro Football Team

The City Council agreed Tuesday to form a committee to lure a professional football team to Los Angeles and will broaden the panel to include members of other key groups.

The council panel, to be known as the Ad Hoc Sports Franchise Committee, also will negotiate for other professional sports teams, according to Council President John Ferraro.

The unanimous decision came after the council urged Mayor Richard Riordan to step up his efforts last week. Last year, Riordan formed Football L.A. to lure a team.

But Ferraro, who will spearhead the committee, suggested the city needed to develop a “team approach,” instead forming another separate committee.

Ferraro amended Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas’ motion to expand the council panel to include members of the Coliseum Commission, the mayor’s staff and the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

City officials are hoping to get a team to commit to play in the Coliseum.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks, the team hoping to relocate to the Los Angeles area for the upcoming season, have reopened their Kirkland, Wash., offices.

The Seahawks originally closed the offices Feb. 2 and began moving equipment to Rams Park in Anaheim two days later.

But owner Ken Behring remains committed to moving the team to the Los Angeles area.

“Since renovations at Rams Park are not yet complete and we had previously scheduled a meeting with coaches, scouts and staff members, we will continue to temporarily utilize the Kirkland facility,” Behring said.