L.A. Giving NFL Options

Los Angeles is about to get football back, but now the tough question: Will it be the expansion California Stars or the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland/Hollywood Park Raiders?

The NFL expansion committee, a group of a dozen influential owners, listened Thursday to Houston and two Los Angeles groups make their pitches to make them richer in exchange for the 32nd franchise, and in background interviews later it became more obvious than ever that the league is leaning hard toward Los Angeles.

“I think we’re more comfortable now that this thing is going to happen there,” said Pat Bowlen, owner of the Denver Broncos, one of the few to go on the record with his comments. “The L.A. groups moved much closer to the Houston guys.”

Optimistically, the league could announce its decision Feb. 16 in Atlanta, but realistically it will probably make such a pronouncement in Arizona in late March.

And, according to NFL insiders, the most likely winner will be: Los Angeles--but not necessarily Michael Ovitz or the Ed Roski-Eli Broad partnership. The league is still seriously talking about awarding the expansion franchise to Los Angeles with conditions, which might include the league building the stadium and then selling it to the highest bidder.

While the NFL said it might not be restricted to Carson and the Coliseum sites if it were to open the bidding--hello, Dodger Stadium--it might have competition if it looks toward Hollywood Park.

R.D. Hubbard, Hollywood Park’s chief executive officer, confirmed that he has had discussions with a third party on behalf of the Raiders, inquiring about the possibility of redoing the stadium deal that had been approved by NFL owners in 1995 before changes were made, forcing Davis to go to Oakland.

Mayor Jerry Brown was traveling and unavailable to comment on a tip that the city of Oakland has expressed interest in settlement talks regarding its lawsuit against the Raiders and the team’s countersuit, which would result in the team being freed from the final 11 years of its lease.

“Haven’t heard about it and don’t believe it,” said Frank Rothman, the NFL’s lead attorney.

NFL officials dismissed the talk as the Raiders’ way of reminding the league that it cannot award an expansion franchise to Los Angeles without first getting permission from Davis.

“Hell, no, we won’t and don’t have to do that,” Rothman said.

Meanwhile, behind closed doors, Ovitz answered questions about his financing plan for a Carson site and emerged as confident as ever, although softening his demands for an immediate decision.

“Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said every question they asked of us we answered,” said Ovitz, indicating he has extended his option on the land on the Carson site, which allows for more patience in waiting for an NFL decision. “We will be flexible as they want us to be; we gave them all our numbers and they can turn them . . . every which way and we’ll make them work.”

Houston followed, reminding the owners that unlike the two L.A. proposals, it has significant public money pledged, which will allow the team to turn a profit.

“If they asked me to be the owner in Los Angeles,” said Bob McNair, who represents Houston, “I couldn’t do it. There comes a point where it doesn’t make good business sense, and without the public money you’re going into the red.”

Broad, now the money man in the effort to return football to a new Coliseum, made his first appearance before the NFL owners and told them if they make a decision he can begin construction in the summer of 2000 and have a new stadium ready for the 2002 season.

“The sky is not the limit,” Broad said. “I really want to do this; I’m passionate about it, but my life will go on if it doesn’t happen.

“Look, I’m not going to be like Michael Ovitz and say I’m out of here in March, but patience is not my great virtue. I’m not going to hang around with these guys for years if that’s what they are expecting. We got it all together now and the ball’s in their court.”

The NFL owners who went on the record were noncommittal, obviously intent on keeping the possibilities alive for competition among bidders, thereby driving up the franchise fee.

“What we can conclude from today is that we have three viable options,” said New England owner Robert Kraft, in essentially saying nothing. “They all have great ownership groups and they all have great stadium plans. We’re going to have a team by the 2002 season. The good news is whomever wins out is going to have a passion for this and do a good job.”

Does that include Al Davis and the Raiders?