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Pasadena says no to a NFL team at the Rose Bowl
The City Council voted 4-2 to drop its bid to bring an NFL team to the Rose Bowl early Tuesday after nearly seven hours of debate, leaving just two of four original cities among those vying to host a national franchise in greater Los Angeles.
Council members Chris Holden and Joyce Streator, the two strongest NFL supporters, conceded defeat after Councilman Steve Madison surprised many residents by voting against the proposal. Many had thought Madison, one of three swing voters on the council, would support the deal.
"I am thrilled, ecstatic, and I praise Steve for sorting it out the right way," said Sue Mossman, executive director of Pasadena Heritage, which opposed the NFL bid.
The Rose Bowl loses about $2 million annually, which is covered by subsidies from Brookside Golf Course.
The city's finance director, Jay Goldstone, issued a memo Friday stating that the NFL deal would bring $133 million in taxes, rent and cost savings to the city over the life of the 25-year lease, the Pasadena Star-News reported Tuesday.
The city was believed to be asking at least $1 million in annual rent from the NFL. The Star-News reported, however, that the NFL had offered less than $325,000 in annual rent and that the difference in figures had created some doubts for council members who initially supported the plan.
Opponents argued that the NFL would bring too much traffic, displace park users from the Arroyo Seco and threaten the Rose Bowl's historic status.
Last month, Carson dropped out of the race after city officials announced they would instead focus on developing a massive retail outlet on a 157-acre property between two freeways. The two locations still in the running are a parking lot next to Angel Stadium in Anaheim and the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The region has been without an NFL franchise since the Rams left Anaheim for St. Louis and the Raiders left Los Angeles for Oakland before the 1995 season.
Source: AP
Council members Chris Holden and Joyce Streator, the two strongest NFL supporters, conceded defeat after Councilman Steve Madison surprised many residents by voting against the proposal. Many had thought Madison, one of three swing voters on the council, would support the deal.
"I am thrilled, ecstatic, and I praise Steve for sorting it out the right way," said Sue Mossman, executive director of Pasadena Heritage, which opposed the NFL bid.
The Rose Bowl loses about $2 million annually, which is covered by subsidies from Brookside Golf Course.
The city's finance director, Jay Goldstone, issued a memo Friday stating that the NFL deal would bring $133 million in taxes, rent and cost savings to the city over the life of the 25-year lease, the Pasadena Star-News reported Tuesday.
The city was believed to be asking at least $1 million in annual rent from the NFL. The Star-News reported, however, that the NFL had offered less than $325,000 in annual rent and that the difference in figures had created some doubts for council members who initially supported the plan.
Opponents argued that the NFL would bring too much traffic, displace park users from the Arroyo Seco and threaten the Rose Bowl's historic status.
Last month, Carson dropped out of the race after city officials announced they would instead focus on developing a massive retail outlet on a 157-acre property between two freeways. The two locations still in the running are a parking lot next to Angel Stadium in Anaheim and the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The region has been without an NFL franchise since the Rams left Anaheim for St. Louis and the Raiders left Los Angeles for Oakland before the 1995 season.
Source: AP