NFL stadium is back in play in Carson

By Gene Maddaus

It's been more than three years since Carson gave up its dim hopes of attracting a professional football team - and more than a decade since the city seemed like a real contender for the NFL.

The former landfill where agent Michael Ovitz once dreamed a stadium could be built is now undergoing grading to make way for a shopping mall.

But the dream is too tantalizing for a Beverly Hills real estate developer to let it die. The developer, Richard Rand, has been quietly working on plans to build a stadium on a nearby parcel, south of the intersection of the San Diego (405)and Harbor (110) freeways.

Rand has not unveiled any plans or sought any coverage of his proposal. The only clue it even exists is that it has appeared on a few agendas of closed Carson City Council sessions, where it is described only in the vaguest of terms.

In recent months, the city has entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Rand's company, which gives him the right to try to put a deal together but does not bind the city to support the project.

"We've assured Richard and his folks that should that happen we certainly would be supportive," said Clifford Graves, the city's redevelopment manager. "He does appear to have the capacity on his team to make a serious effort."

NFL stadium is back in play in Carson....

New football stadium worth price of admission?

BY KATIE STRANG

Giants co-owner John Mara and Jets owner Woody Johnson helped unveil the New Meadowlands Stadium - now 60 percent complete - in a special tour with local media yesterday.

The $1.6-billion facility, which will feature 40,000 square feet of video screens and displays, an adjoining rail station to accommodate fans and a capacity of 82,500, will serve as home to both the Giants and the Jets and will change its complexion to reflect the home team.

Yesterday it was revealed that the construction is "not only ahead of schedule, but on budget," according to New Meadowlands Stadium CEO Mark Lamping.

With the project under way and more than 1.3 million work hours spent, however, Mara and Johnson both addressed many fans' biggest concerns - the increasing financial burden they must endure to attend games, exacerbated by a struggling economy.

New football stadium worth price of admission?....

New Marlins stadium slated for 2012 opening

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - The planned 2011 target date for the new Florida Marlins stadium has been pushed back one year due to the extensive lawsuit filed by auto dealer Norman Braman, according to Marlins president David Samson on Tuesday.

Though Braman lost all seven counts in the lawsuit, which challenged the public funding of the project and was concluded last week, the time spent in court has delayed the construction of the estimated $515 million retractable- roof ballpark to be plotted on the grounds of the Orange Bowl in the Little Havana section of Miami.

In order to make the new 2012 deadline, the Marlins must break ground on construction in May 2009.

New Marlins stadium slated for 2012 opening....

Stadiums land Final Four tourneys

Forget about a men's NCAA Final Four being played in an arena anytime soon, as the NCAA announced the locations for the 2012-2016 tournaments:

2012: New Orleans, Louisiana Superdome
2013: Atlanta, Georgia Dome
2014: Dallas-Ft. Worth, Cowboys Stadium
2015: Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium
2016: Houston, Reliant Stadium
The most notable presence on the list: the $1.1-billion Dallas Cowboys stadium.

Stadiums land Final Four tourneys....

Reports: Jones seeking more cash for Cowboys' stadium

By BYRON HARRIS

Banks are bellying up and General Motors is heading south.

Sports Business Journal says Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones is asking for $350 million in new loans, most of which would go for the new stadium.

Not exactly a sub prime loan for this Behemoth but in a troubled loan market, even big companies are having trouble finding money.

Jones met at his Arlington sales office last month with his main lender, Bank of America, and more than a dozen other banks to find more money for what is a gold-plated venture.

"I've spent a lot of money on the wow factor on this stadium to help create that interest in this venue," said Jones.

The potential problem - it's a different financial market now than when ground was broken.

Reports: Jones seeking more cash for Cowboys' stadium....

Mavs, Cowboys to co-host 2010 NBA All-Star game

By JAIME ARON

DALLAS (AP) — The NBA All-Star game is coming to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in 2010 and plenty of good seats are available — more than 100,000.

Living up to the old adage about doing things bigger in Texas, the Dallas Mavericks and Cowboys are collaborating on hosting next season's showcase event. It will be among the first major events at the soon-to-be-completed, $1.1 billion facility in nearby Arlington.

And, if all goes according to plan, this event will set the record for the largest crowd ever to watch an NBA game, shattering the mark of 44,735 set at the 1989 All-Star Game, not-so-coincidentally held at another Texas-sized venue, the Houston Astrodome.

"It's totally outrageous," NBA commissioner David Stern said.

Just wait until he hears Mavs owner Mark Cuban's idea about putting the record out of reach.

"If we can get people to sit on each other's laps, it could be 200,000," Cuban said, laughing.

Mavs, Cowboys to co-host 2010 NBA All-Star game....