NFL in L.A. Not as Easy as ABC

A day after endorsing Michael Ovitz’s stadium design and parking solution, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue shifted positions, wrapping up three days of meetings by extolling the positive things that Jim Semcken had emphasized in the New Coliseum presentation.

Semcken’s first name, of course, is John, but then to listen to Tagliabue it’s all so confusing.

“The way I would put it and the way I put it to owners,” Tagliabue said, “I think we have a Plan A and a Plan B and then we need them to evolve together into a Plan C.”

He did not say whether Ovitz represented Plan A and Eli Broad and Ed Roski associate Semcken Plan B. For that matter, Marvin Davis might represent Plan A.

As for Plan C, will that require another model?

“I don’t know,” Tagliabue said, and that’s the latest progress report on the return of the NFL to Los Angeles.

Whatever happens next, it will certainly involve the pursuit of money, with the NFL probably dedicating its efforts to uncovering public funds, urging Broad and Ovitz partner Ron Burkle--two of the biggest contributors to Gray Davis’ gubernatorial campaign--to use their influence to gain state funds.

This much is known: The NFL wants Burkle and Broad to pool their influence, but does not want Broad and Ovitz/Burkle to merge their ownership groups, which could prevent the owners from pushing for a higher franchise fee.

In action that will eventually have an impact on Los Angeles, the NFL set the mechanism in place at these meetings to loan Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, $141 million to build a new stadium in Foxboro, an additional $50 million to $55 million to Philadelphia Eagle owner Jeff Lurie and $43 million to $44 million to Denver Bronco owner Pat Bowlen for new stadium construction.

The owner of the Los Angeles expansion franchise is now in line under this system to receive a loan of up to $150 million as long as a portion of the stadium is supported by public funds. That’s why Broad and Burkle will be calling on the governor.

Before the ball can be kicked in the air in Los Angeles and the attention put on players on the field, the business deal must run its course.

And that will be further complicated by the passage of time. The NFL awarded San Diego the 2003 Super Bowl on Wednesday, and given the commissioner’s promises to San Francisco and Detroit, Los Angeles can probably forget about getting a Super Bowl until at least 2006, although the new Los Angeles franchise will be trying to sell premium tickets linked to the opportunity to attend a Super Bowl in the Coliseum.