NFL Franchise Awarded to L.A.

* The obstacle to bringing a new NFL franchise to Los Angeles has nothing to do with a lack of public support, PSLs (personal seat licenses), naming rights, the ownership group or site selection. The obstacle is the $475-million franchise fee. The absurdly high fee makes the project an economic white elephant for any ownership group. For $475 million, a new team and new stadium could be paid for without spending a nickel of public money.

KEP WHITEFORD

South Pasadena

* I just read your editorial (March 14) that Los Angeles is the best deal for the NFL.

Your argument is a very powerful one, except you failed to mention the bottom line. Does Los Angeles have a solid base of people who will show up and support the team’s home games with a full house, regardless of if they are having a winning or losing season?

You can have a state-of-the-art stadium, a good coaching staff and a squad of talented football players, but if the fans don’t come out and support that team, regardless, then the franchise will fail and the team (like the previous two) will move to a city where the fans will be more supportive.

MATTHEW L. PATTON

Fullerton

* Talk about parental priorities being out of whack! Your story quotes Michael Ovitz as saying that he finds it sad that his children are growing up without an NFL local team (March 17).

PHILIP H. WILLON

Palos Verdes Peninsula