L.A. Council OKs Farmers Field

AEG’s Farmers Field stadium project got a unanimous green light from the Los Angeles City Council Sept. 28, despite questions about the possible sale of the sports and entertainment giant.

Some of the biggest names in L.A. sporting circles including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Rodney Peete were in attendance as the city council stamped a 12-0 approval for AEG to move forward on the downtown NFL stadium and revamped convention center, according to the Los Angeles Times.

AEG President/CEO Tim Leiweke told the council approval would show the National Football League that “L.A. is now open for business,” according to the paper. The stadium lacks a prospective pro tenant, but Abdul-Jabbar told the council that “If you build a great home, they will come and they will win championships.”

Leiweke has repeatedly pledged that whoever buys AEG will be similarly committed as the city’s “next partner” in backing the stadium and bringing in a football team.

Photo: Nick Ut / AP Photo

Paul Patsis, president of Market Management for Farmers Insurance, poses with Los Angeles Kings cheerleaders in Los Angeles.

Kareem was joined in the council chamber by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the L.A. billionaire who is hotly tipped to be forming an investor group to purchase AEG and supports plans for the stadium and football team acquisition.