Rose Bowl Details Proposal

Rose Bowl officials took the first step Thursday toward the environmental-impact report process for a new NFL stadium, one they hope will balance the requirements of the league and Pasadena historic preservationists.

Darryl Dunn, general manager of the Rose Bowl, submitted a report detailing the stadium’s design changes to the Rose Bowl Operating Co., which will vote Saturday on whether to submit an EIR application to the Pasadena City Council on Monday.

If the vote passes, Rose Bowl backers hope the City Council will vote to certify the EIR by May 2005, when the NFL intends to choose from among three competing stadium sites -- the Rose Bowl, the Coliseum and Carson.

Unlike the previous Rose Bowl design, the new plan involves less excavation. The stadium would be slightly higher, with one more level of suites around the top rim. The seating would feature more leg room, and more tunnels would be added.

The planned stadium would seat 65,000 and would be expandable to 75,000 for UCLA games and the Rose Bowl game.

The City Council’s negotiating guidelines, however, say the Tournament of Roses and UCLA must be compensated for decreased seating capacity. The stadium now seats 92,500.

The original plan called for a two-year renovation that would require moving UCLA games and the Rose Bowl game. In the new plan, improvements would be phased in and the games would be undisturbed.

-- Sam Farmer

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Jake Delhomme passed for one touchdown and ran for another as the Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Giants, 27-20, in an exhibition game at Charlotte, N.C. Eli Manning completed nine of 15 passes for 117 yards and Kurt Warner was nine of 11 for 71 yards for the Giants.

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Doug Flutie, the San Diego Chargers’ 41-year-old quarterback, participated in his first full practice since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Aug. 5. “It was nice to get back out there and feel like I belong,” Flutie said.

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Pittsburgh right guard Kendall Simmons will miss the season with a torn ligament in his right knee, leaving the Steelers short on an offensive line already lacking depth.

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Jacksonville rookie linebacker Jorge Cordova will miss the season after tests showed the third-round draft choice from Nevada tore a knee ligament.... Buffalo punter Brian Moorman was held out of practice with a strained left hamstring and could miss Saturday’s exhibition against Tennessee.

Associated Press