Soccer News: Magic Johnson And Mia Hamm Garciaparra Help Announce LAFC’s Plans To Build A $250 million Los Angeles Stadium
Major League Soccer’s Newest Club Announces Plans to Create and Develop Internationally Renowned Football Stadium – “We gotta do [the stadium] first, because that so much defines what we are, where we are, who we claim to be,” said team president Tom Penn at a Round Table discussion earlier.
Today soccer took a step further in the USA when Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club announced its intent to build a new state-of-the-art soccer stadium in South Los Angeles, at the site of the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In fact, season tickets can be reserved beginning today for $50 online.
LAFC’s commitment to the MLS, the sport in general and the city of LA in specific is clear – soccer will flourish with LAFC’s help. With a gorgeous new design and a plan to stimulate the economy as well as the passion for the beautiful game, LAFC unveiled plans for the new development which will bring $250 million in private investments to South Los Angeles. At the center of the plans is the new 22,000-seat soccer-specific venue.
The LA soccer stadium project, designed by LA-based architectural firm Gensler, will also include over 100,000 sq. ft. of new restaurants, office space, a conference center and a first-of-its kind world football (soccer) museum. Finally a great entertainment destination built around soccer.
“We are committed to making our home in South Los Angeles and to be part of the phenomenal development happening along the Figueroa corridor that extends to downtown Los Angeles,” said Henry Nguyen, head of the Los Angeles Football Club’s ownership group.
The LAFC group is a ‘whose-who’ of the soccer, entertainment and sports world. The 24-member LAFC group includes sports and entertainment mogul Peter Guber, businessmen Ruben Gnanalingam and Vincent Tan, Club President Tom Penn, U.S. soccer superstar Mia Hamm Garciaparra, NBA legend Earvin Magic Johnson, MLB All-Star Nomar Garciaparra, and best-selling author and entrepreneur Tony Robbins.
“Los Angeles is a city famed for its creativity and innovation. In that tradition we look forward to building a premier club, in a state of the art stadium delivering a state of the heart experience, and bringing the world’s game to the City of Angels,” said Peter Guber executive chairman of LAFC.
The goal is to have the new facility in place for the 2018 Major League Soccer season when the Club will launch its inaugural season. The stadium will aim to maximize the soccer fan and player experiences and have the latest state-of-the-art technologies, incorporating core elements and best practices from soccer stadiums around the world.
“We are not only committed to creating a dynamic soccer experience for our fans, but are equally excited about the impact our stadium and facilities will have in reshaping and revitalizing South Los Angeles,” said Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson.
“The new stadium will be absolutely spectacular,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Los Angeles Football Club fans deserve a world-class stadium, and this facility will provide the appropriate environment for them to celebrate their club.”
The new project has the strong support of local officials who are hoping to give a much-needed economic boost to the area around the arena and the surrounding communities.
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“I’m excited to welcome the Los Angeles Football Club to the City of Angels,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Los Angeles loves soccer and now the greatest sports town in America gets even better. I know this ownership group is committed to representing the best our city has to offer. And I’m especially pleased that this proposed state-of-the-art stadium will be located in South Los Angeles to help revive that neighborhood and bring more jobs and opportunity for our residents. I look forward to celebrating the inaugural season and soon the MLS Cup in the City of Los Angeles.”
South Los Angeles has poverty and unemployment rates well above the city average. The construction of the new stadium will include a one-time economic activity of more than $275 million and over 1,200 new union and non-union jobs. Additionally, net new impacts from annual operations of the new stadium are estimated to generate more than $129 million in new economic activity, create more than 1,800 full-time jobs, and produce $2.5 million in annual tax revenue.
“This project is a tremendous gain for our community that will bring lasting benefits for our local economy including adding thousands of new local jobs and spurring new economic development opportunities for the district I represent – and all of Los Angeles,” said Councilman Curren Price, who represents the Sports Arena and surrounding South LA community.
The Club also hopes that the project serves as a catalyst for additional investment in South Los Angeles, an area racked by high unemployment and poverty.
“Soccer is enjoyed by billions of fans in over 200 countries worldwide, uniting people of all backgrounds around a common passion,” said L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson. “The proposed sports complex will not only promote the same excitement in our diverse city, but also bring an infusion of private investment to South L.A.”
With tight deadlines remaining to get a final deal in place Councilman Price will bring the matter before City Council President Wesson and his colleagues on the City Council and will be calling on them to act quickly to complete environmental reviews, entitlements and infrastructure investment to make the project feasible at this location.
While the Coliseum Commission has announced their support for the proposal, the final deal is contingent upon all parties meeting a series of benchmarks by the end of July. The project will require a significant amount of infrastructure and environmental abatement. The Los Angeles Football Club does intend to have discussions with the City and State to identify funding opportunities that the project will be qualified for under their guidelines. These discussions will begin in the future. No money from the City’s general fund will be used for this project.
The Club’s owners also announced a preliminary agreement with the University of Southern California, which is responsible for managing the Sports Arena site.
“On behalf of the university, I’m excited about the new soccer stadium project from the Los Angeles Football Club,” said Todd R. Dickey, senior vice president for administration at USC. “We are pleased that the Sports Arena will be redeveloped to become the home for Los Angeles’ next major professional sports team.”
The Coliseum Commission has also agreed to hold a public hearing to commence its review process for the proposed stadium later this month.
Architectural renderings are provided by Gensler and can be found at www.LAFC.com.
Here is Magic Johnson on why he is involved with the LAFC
