Sgt John
Sith Lord of T&A
Two different groups interested in bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles have approached the Minnesota Vikings about possible relocation, Vikings vice president of public affairs Lester Bagley said in a chat on the team's website Tuesday.
"We have been approached by two different groups in Los Angeles -- the Ed Roski group and more recently by former Timberwolves CEO Tim Leiweke and AEG," Bagley said in the chat.
Bagley said that team owner Zygi Wilf and Vikings management toured L.A. Live, an entertainment complex located in the city's downtown area, in 2009. According to Bagley, the group was looking for ideas on building a similiar entertainment district in Minnesota.
The Vikings are in their final year on their lease at the Metrodome and have been pushing to get a new stadium approved.
The Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota football team have both moved out of the outdated building to shiny new facilities of their own. Since 2002, Minnesota has been playing in the Metrodome rent-free, a gesture made to acknowledge the building's difficulty in producing revenue.
Bagley said the Vikings have told both interested groups that the organization is "focused on resolving the issue in Minnesota."
"We feel solid momentum and feel we're well-positioned with the new legislature and governor," he said in the chat. "Instead of spending energy speculating on other markets, let's keep the focus on building a world-class facility for the community and the state of Minnesota."
Both the Rams and the Raiders were once a part of the nation's second-biggest market in Los Angeles.
Speaking at a fundraiser for downtown Los Angeles in early October, Leiweke said he was still working on getting an NFL team to the area. Leiweke also said he's committed to working with city officials and AEG's Phillip Anshutz, to make a downtown stadium a reality.
Roski has permission to build an NFL stadium in Industry, Calif., about 15 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
"We have been approached by two different groups in Los Angeles -- the Ed Roski group and more recently by former Timberwolves CEO Tim Leiweke and AEG," Bagley said in the chat.
Bagley said that team owner Zygi Wilf and Vikings management toured L.A. Live, an entertainment complex located in the city's downtown area, in 2009. According to Bagley, the group was looking for ideas on building a similiar entertainment district in Minnesota.
The Vikings are in their final year on their lease at the Metrodome and have been pushing to get a new stadium approved.
The Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota football team have both moved out of the outdated building to shiny new facilities of their own. Since 2002, Minnesota has been playing in the Metrodome rent-free, a gesture made to acknowledge the building's difficulty in producing revenue.
Bagley said the Vikings have told both interested groups that the organization is "focused on resolving the issue in Minnesota."
"We feel solid momentum and feel we're well-positioned with the new legislature and governor," he said in the chat. "Instead of spending energy speculating on other markets, let's keep the focus on building a world-class facility for the community and the state of Minnesota."
Both the Rams and the Raiders were once a part of the nation's second-biggest market in Los Angeles.
Speaking at a fundraiser for downtown Los Angeles in early October, Leiweke said he was still working on getting an NFL team to the area. Leiweke also said he's committed to working with city officials and AEG's Phillip Anshutz, to make a downtown stadium a reality.
Roski has permission to build an NFL stadium in Industry, Calif., about 15 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
