AEG Owner Determined To Accelerate NFL Takeover

American tycoon Philip Anschutz is reportedly eager to prove his commitment to the NFL stadium project in downtown Los Angeles by purchasing a National Football League (NFL) franchise, pills according to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) president Tim Leiweke.

Leiweke has strongly denied reports that NFL officials are unhappy with AEG’s proposal for a team, no rx along with playing down rumours that the recent takeover of Major League Baseball franchise the Dodgers could see a rival stadium developed in the Chavez Ravine area of the city. Leiweke told the Los Angeles Times that Anschutz is ready to pay for both AEG’s proposed US$1.2 billion Farmers Field stadium and a team as long as he can get a “reasonable” deal from the League.

Having previously indicated that he would be willing to acquire only a 50% stake in an NFL team, Leiweke has now detailed Anschutz’s new stance, marking a new level of commitment to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles for the first time since 1995, when the Raiders returned to Oakland and the Rams moved to St Louis.

National Basketball Association legend Magic Johnson and his co-owners in the Guggenheim Baseball Management consortium last week sealed a huge deal to acquire the Dodgers and Leiweke conceded they could seek to put forward a football stadium proposal in the vicinity of Dodger Stadium. Leiweke added to the Los Angeles Times that he was in talks with the Dodgers’ new ownership group, but did not reveal what the discussions were about.

AEG is planning to release a 10,000-page environmental impact report on Thursday, setting off a 45-day public comment period. The newspaper states that a final report will be followed by a 175-day window for environmental-related legal challenges. If all proceeds smoothly, officials say the downtown site would be on an equal regulatory footing with Majestic Realty’s rival project in the City of Industry by March 2013, which Leiweke said is the earliest that the NFL could decide to move a team.