Kym Wright commented on my previous post and got me thinking for a good long while. (Thanks for the response Kym!)
Her comment reminded me of the proposed new football stadium being built in Southern California to bring an NFL franchise back to the area. After all, it's been years since the Raiders and the Rams were here. My thought, though: is it really necessary?
(For reference: check out the proposed stadium and amenities here!)
From a very sports-specific standpoint, Los Angeles seems to be overcrowded with sports teams. To list them all off would be maddening, as I would have to include the minor leagues as well, but the big names are...
MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers
NHL: Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks
MLB: Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers
We basically have two of everything, and the only real thing of note is that we have no NFL team! How could a big city let that happen?? Perhaps it lies in the fact that having all these choices is dividing the city in half. Unlike many other cities (San Antonio Spurs comes to mind very quickly) that rally behind one team, Los Angeleans are spoiled with choices, and that in itself doesn't seem to contribute to a city-wide identity. Sports is a great way to bring people together, but Los Angeles seems to have missed the mark. In that vein, it'd be nice to have an NFL team again. Just not two of them, please!
My greater worry, however, is the GRIDLOCK that we are famous around the world for. The 57-60 interchange, the site of the proposed stadium, is already known to be one of the worst in the continental United States. I shiver at the thought of having a massive stadium dropped in here; it's bad enough already!
That's about all I can think of for now. I hesitate to ask what your favorite sports team is and why, so I would like to end the post with these: What do you think Los Angeles should do with the new stadium, do you think it's a good idea?
Bonus question: have you ever had a sale, or known someone who wanted to move closer because of a sports team? Or, have you ever used sports as a main selling point of a new location?
Would love to know your thoughts!
(note: the editor of this post is a diehard Arsenal fan. Come on you Gunners!)
