One Step Closer to a NFL Team
The Anshultz Entertainment Group released the environmental impact report for Farmers Field on Thursday.
The 10,000-page EIR will address critical environmental issues regarding this newly planned Stadium. Parking, transportation, and traffic are among the 23 topics analyzed in the report.
"Everything with Farmers Field has been a public process," said AEG VP of Communication Michael Roth.
The report also stated that "the stadium and a modernized convention center would generate $1.7 billion for the local economy along with thousands of new jobs."
The $27 million report, which was funded by AEG privately, is largely concerned with the estimated 19,500 cars that will flood Downtown on game days.
AEG has plans to help alleviate the potential problem by adding 1,000 more parking spots around the stadium, improving traffic signals and adding a lane on the 101 Freeway at the 110 Freeway.
AEG also proposed offering discounts for people who commit to using public transit to get to the stadium rather than drive.
AEG plans to not only built a 73,000 seat football stadium, but also turn the Los Angeles Convention Center's West Hall into a new 500,000 square-foot contiguous exhibition space.
"This was a project we've worked on day and night for the past year," CEO of the LA Convention Center, Pouria Abbassi said.
The report also notes that hosting games, concerts and other events at Farmers Field will increase light and noise pollution Downtown.
Despite the many environmental concerns for the project, AEG is confident that they will be able to bring a NFL team back to Los Angeles rather quickly.
"By the end of this calendar year, at the latest first quarter of 2013, we will be done with the EIR and we will be able to look the NFL in the eye and tell them we have a political plan that has been approved by the city of Los Angeles," Tim Leiweke, the President and CEO of AEG, said at a news conference at City Hall.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is also confident that Los Angeles will be home to a new convention center and NFL team in the not-so-distant future.
"This draft is another step in the long process of making Farmers Field and the new convention center a reality," the Mayor said in a press release. "I'm working hard to bring a team to L.A., and a world-class stadium is an important part of that effort."
Moving forward, AEG will enter a series of hearings at City Hall to receive the city's approval. Roth expects this to last throughout the summer with all litigation resolved and met withing a 175-day period.
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