Even though the St. Louis Rams will be moving to Inglewood and not the city of Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday he was still thrilled at the return of the NFL to the Southland, all of which will benefit.
“I always said this was good for the region,” Garcetti said. “My first choice was here in downtown initially, but the hotels that are in the city of L.A. will still be filled during these games. The construction jobs will still go to the men and women who live here.”
The city of Los Angeles had approved plans for a stadium adjacent to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, known as Farmers Field, but the city and its development partner, AEG, were unable to attract an NFL franchise to the facility.
Los Angeles will still gain international attention by the move, with the team being known again as the Los Angeles Rams and playing at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until the Inglewood stadium is ready to go in 2019.
“And this kind of cements what I believe about Los Angeles that this is the best city in the world for sports, the last part of our resume that was missing,” Garcetti said. “I was frequently in conversation with my fellow mayors in the region with the commissioner, with the owners, over the last couple of years. I had lunches with them, tried to facilitate, let them know this was a unified region, for whatever team, although the best one of the three I believe is here.”
Garcetti said he is a lifetime Rams fan — although he initially misspoke and called himself a Raiders fan.
“Sorry, did I just misspeak?” he said when questioned by reporters. “Take two. As a lifelong Rams fan, I couldn’t be happier.
“As a boy, I went to games, went to the 1980 Super Bowl,” he said. “Even though we lost, it was one of the sweetest memories of my childhood. In 1994, even their last season, I was at a Rams game in Anaheim.”
As for a possible second NFL franchise joining the Rams, Garcetti said residents should take pride in having one for now.
“Everybody wants to ask about a second team,” he said. “I think before we get greedy about a second team we should enjoy one. And I certainly feel the pain of the St. Louis residents because I felt that when they left, but the Rams are coming back to where they were for 50 years. The next two teams would actually be leaving what is their hometown, so I’m perfectly happy myself as a mayor and happy for our economy and region as well.”
County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis said the stadium “could attract regional crowds, as well as tourists, which could significantly bolster the local economy.”
“This proposed stadium will be easily accessible by Metro and it will even be near LAX,” Solis said. “These sporting venues often generate revenues for regional economies. It is my strong hope that the jobs at this stadium will offer local residents living wages.”
Ernest Wooden Jr., president/CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, said the tourism implications of the stadium “are tremendously significant.”
“Not only will this provide visitors from around the globe one more enticing reason to choose Los Angeles for their next getaway, but the Inglewood stadium plans provide the city an incredible asset that will have economic impact long after an NFL season ends,” Wooden said.
He said having a modern stadium with a retractable roof will mean the region can attract bigger events such as the NCAA Final Four and Super Bowl.
—City News Service