A new team may need to play at the L.A. Coliseum for a few years while the proposed downtown stadium is built. But L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks says a USC administrator told him the school would veto that unless it receives a "master lease," giving it greater control over the Coliseum.
Parks says he opposes such a lease because it would allow the university to keep other events out of the stadium. The councilman is on the Coliseum's governing commission.
"I do not believe that I could realistically turn over a public facility to a private institution," Parks told the L.A. Times.
A USC spokesperson says the school is open to talks regarding an NFL team.
The City Council unanimously approved a non-binding agreement on Tuesday, clearing the way for /*AEG*/ to begin arranging financing to pay for the construction of a 72,000-seat stadium.
Under the memorandum of understanding, AEG would pay for the /*football stadium*/ and two new parking structures.
However, the deal will only move forward if an NFL team signs a long-term agreement to move to downtown L.A. and play in Farmers Field.
There has been talk that the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Buffalo Bills will move to the city, as well as wishful thinking that the San Diego Chargers will return to L.A.
Environmental impact reports were under way and were expected to be complete by next year.
