Possible New Stadium Could Bring LeBron James One Step Closer

The Lakers believe they can give James an opportunity to win another championship within a few seasons, with their management duo of Johnson and Pelinka recruiting guards Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson as well as center JaVale McGee to strengthen the squad.

The Lakers had high hopes that recruiting Kyrie Irving could offer them an immediate counterpoint to Golden State's impressive Big 3. However, they remain undecided on whether another All-Star addition would be worthwhile.

Los Angeles City Council Approves Plan to Build a New Stadium

Los Angeles City Council members overwhelmingly approved plans to build a stadium in an attempt to entice an NFL franchise back to Los Angeles after two decades without an active franchise. This step marked an essential part of efforts to bring professional football back to Los Angeles; which had no team since 1994.

The city intends to use bonds backed by taxes, lease agreements and other revenue sources as the funding sources for their stadium project. No direct public funds will be used - something crucial when working with the NFL which has stringent regulations about using public money for stadium support.

AEG, the developer behind Staples Center and L.A. Live, will submit its project for consideration by NFL owners for approval by March. Should this proposal pass muster, construction could commence on an inglewood stadium built at the former Hollywood Park race track site and would include office space, retail outlets, restaurants and even a world soccer museum.

Mayor James Butts estimates the stadium will bring over $250 million in private investment and its 22,000-seat stadium designed by LA architectural firm Gensler will become "a state-of-the-art facility leveraging best practices from entertainment and sports venues around the world". Meanwhile, Inglewood plans to demolish Sports Arena which opened as home of LA Clippers back in 1995.

Butts believes LA is sending a clear signal with their plan that they desire a football team, hoping it will compete with San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, both currently based out of Carson. He's working on another stadium proposal in downtown LA but this plan has yet to gain momentum.

LeBron James will become a free agent this summer and is considering returning to Los Angeles, though he may not yet be ready to commit long-term. A right foot tendon injury prevented him from competing in the NBA Finals and much of his offseason activities.

If LeBron James does return to the Los Angeles Lakers, it is expected that several key teammates will follow him back into Los Angeles. After being swept by Denver Nuggets last season, it will be interesting to see how James and his teammates respond when given another opportunity to rebuild and try for an NBA championship again. It won't be an easy road; losing six players during free agency was tough on them and taking down Los Angeles Clippers who won their sixth consecutive crown will pose major obstacles; according to reports by Los Angeles Times several of their top prospects may even leave them vulnerable against other teams'.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Says a New Stadium Will Be Built in L.A.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says he won't back down from L.A.'s push to attract an NFL franchise. Although developer AEG recently decided not to move forward with their Farmers Field plan near the Convention Center, Garcetti remains willing to revisit plans for a stadium: "If there is someone willing to pick it up again we are prepared." He told KNX radio during an "Ask the Mayor" segment: "All environmental work has been completed; plans exist."

City officials have spent five years and at least $50 million trying to secure an NFL team for Los Angeles, but have had little luck. Mayor Eric Garcetti suggested the project might move towards suburban locations, yet still welcomed any team regardless of its location: "We're one city; if a different part of Los Angeles comes forward with their desire for one, we will welcome them!"

Garcetti delivered what may be his final State of the City address as his nomination as U.S. ambassador to India appears increasingly unlikely to pass through the Senate. His two-term Democratic candidacy has been marred by sexual harassment allegations against an adviser, and political forces seem increasingly opposed to his presence within politics.

Garcetti highlighted the need for investment in his residents during his address, emphasizing affordable housing and better health care as priorities for Los Angeles. To meet those goals he announced a $21 million fund that will hire and train personnel who will retrofit buildings more energy efficiently while promising air filters and insulation distribution to residents living in neighborhoods with the worst pollution levels. Furthermore, he pledged to expand upon a program offering low-income families vouchers to pay for health care, pledging support for ongoing programs granting vouchers while expanding coverage in its scope - something he pledged during his address.

Regarding Los Angeles' Olympic bid, he noted that its costs will be covered without extra burden to taxpayers through revenue from TV deals, commercial sponsorships and ticket sales as well as from negotiations with the International Olympic Committee for funding agreements. Furthermore, he mentioned their $1.3 billion PlayLA initiative which provides opportunities for kids from across Los Angeles to participate in sports at no or minimal costs to their families.

He also touted his record in raising the minimum wage, cutting business taxes, and investing in infrastructure projects like a rail line to downtown LA. On April 18th - one day before Trump spoke - Banc of California Stadium opened as part of its state-of-the-art design, an impressive feat which the mayor called "the greatest gift to Los Angeles community". Noting that most IOC members hail from outside of America he predicted they may take note of any statements Trump makes regarding Mexicans, Muslims or any other groups he may make about these groups or Trump might say something similar about Mexicans, Muslims or groups in general.

L.A. City Council Approves Plan to Build a New Stadium

Los Angeles took another step closer to realizing its dream of professional football this week as the City Council approved plans for a stadium near downtown, known as Farmers Field and expected to cost $1.2 billion and create thousands of jobs. Voting unanimously, City Council members approved both development agreement and environmental reports as well as financing packages that allow Anschutz Entertainment Group access tax-free bonds in order to fund this endeavor.

Los Angeles is now closer than it has been for nearly 20 years to securing an NFL franchise, thanks to sports management mogul Casey Wasserman's proposal. Sports fans and city officials viewed his victory as an important "step forward". Over the next nine months, city council will review additional binding votes related to stadium financing deals; construction could start as soon as June. Furthermore, another proposal from warehouse magnate Ed Roski for building one in Inglewood has also been floated by him.

Farmers Field is the choice of both the mayor and other city leaders, as it will draw thousands of fans to its center city location. To help fund it, the city would recoup some of its expenditure on demolishing West Hall at the convention center to accommodate for the stadium; these costs would then be repaid through municipal bonds that are expected to be issued sometime during 2020.

AEG, owner of Staples Center and 30 percent of Lakers, has begun discussions with potential National Football League franchises but hasn't made a final decision about whether to proceed with stadium plans for their stadium plans. Patrick Soon-Shiong attended City Council hearing as an indication of good faith from AEG's side.

An NFL franchise would complete Los Angeles' vision of itself and could serve as the final piece in their puzzle, following years of failed stadium proposals and losing teams like Rams and Raiders to Southern California in 1994 and Anschutz Entertainment Group cancelling plans to build one downtown later that decade.