Irvine Wants to Think Over Stadium Offer

Irvine leaders expressed wariness Friday at granting exclusive development rights to an investment group seeking to build a professional football stadium at the retiring El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and said it could be months before they make a final decision.

The Southern California Sports Group, made up of Los Angeles investors including former USC football star Anthony Davis, said it will raise $500 million for a stadium if the city will give it sole authority to develop the project and help recruit an NFL team.

“They want exclusivity, and I don’t think the council is ready to do that,” said Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea, echoing the views of other council members. “This is a very tight proposal. I think we have a lot of introspection to do.”

Leaders of the sports group could not be reached for comment Friday, and it’s unclear whether they would be willing to invest in the stadium without getting exclusive development rights.

Getting a stadium deal would boost forces fighting plans to build an international airport at El Toro. A stadium is part of an alternative El Toro plan, which would include a museum, a university and other attractions.

Irvine officials insist that the stadium could still be built even with an airport, because the project site is a good distance from El Toro’s existing runways.

Airport proponents, however, say they are not concerned. “This stadium is just pie in the sky, as far as I am concerned,” said Orange County Supervisor Charles V. Smith. “I don’t take it seriously.”

The proposal faces many obstacles, including raising the estimated $1 billion needed to build a stadium and secure a team. The site is owned by the federal government and would have to be conveyed to Irvine. Moreover, the NFL is said to prefer Los Angeles for a new team.

“The central location of Los Angeles make a lot of sense when it comes to reaching the Southern California market,” said Robert Baade, professor of economics at Lake Forest College in Illinois.

The league is expected to award its next expansion franchise over the next year. Los Angeles, along with Houston and possibly Toronto, are considered leading candidates, but the new team probably won’t play until at least 2001.

Top NFL officials last month toured the El Toro site, on the far south end of the base near the Santa Ana Freeway. But they are said to favor bringing the team to Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles city officials are pushing for a new stadium on the site of the Coliseum in Exposition Park. Other locations include land next to the new Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles or next to Dodger Stadium. Inglewood wants to build a stadium near Hollywood Park, while entertainment mogul Michael Ovitz is backing a site in Carson.

While Irvine officials said they are excited by the investors’ proposal, they are concerned about being locked into one plan without seeing what other investors might be able to offer.

“My sense is to be cautious,” said Councilman Dave Christensen. “I’m not real anxious to have the council restricted to an exclusive agreement and have the city jump at the first offer we get.”

Added Councilman Greg Smith: “I’d like to see what other offers might be out there.”