Council Agrees on New Offer to Disney

Following the Walt Disney Co.’s rejection of the city’s cost-sharing formula for $100 million worth of planned renovations to Anaheim Stadium, the city council met in emergency session for two hours Monday to carve out a new proposal.

Although the council appeared divided on what the city should be willing to concede to Disney in the high-stakes negotiations to renovate Anaheim Stadium, a majority nonetheless agreed on a new offer to be presented to Disney.

“Everyone has their opinion, but the bottom line is we’re moving forward,” said Councilman Lou Lopez. “I feel very confident that we’ll be able to resolve this.”

Disney has offered to pay $70 million of the $100 million price tag for the Anaheim Stadium renovations, which would transform the Big A from a multisport facility back into a smaller, more intimate baseball park with about 20,000 fewer seats. This leaves the city with $30 million of the cost.

Sources said the city has at least $10 million it can spend on the renovations, but it is not clear where it would get the balance of the money.

With the city operating under a bare-bones budget for the last several years, council members are reluctant to be seen as subsidizing the entertainment giant.

In another city matter, the Planning Commission approved a three-year permit allowing a professional football team to use Rams Park, which was formerly Juliette Low Elementary School. The Seahawks, who would like to begin training in the facility by March 15, still need the approval of the Magnolia School Board before gaining access.

The Magnolia School Board continues to be at odds with the Rams on the cost of renovating the former school site.