Deep Into Sports » wilf family http://www.deepintosports.com MLB NFL NBA NHL NCAA PGA Olympics Tennis Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:14:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Chicken Little Wears Purple http://www.deepintosports.com/2009/01/29/minnesota-vikings-move-los-angeles/ http://www.deepintosports.com/2009/01/29/minnesota-vikings-move-los-angeles/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:44:49 +0000 MP Olson http://www.deepintosports.com/?p=685 It’s possible that the owners of the Minnesota Vikings, the Wilf family, are eyeing Los Angeles as a new franchise home as well as a partnership with a SoCal developer for a stadium deal. As reported in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, a proposal is in place to develop a tract of land for a new stadium in the LA suburb of Walnut, CA.

They wouldn’t need public funds in Los Angeles. With this proposal, they’re already going to develop a huge tract due east of LA and nearly equidistant from Anaheim and Riverside. Plus, if (IF) they have an opportunity to negotiate ownership of a section of highway that would feed the property (installing a toll), they wouldn’t need a dime from the public. Infrastructure investment is one area that real estate investors are still targeting. It provides a constant income stream at moderate rates of return over a long period of time.

Minnesota VikingsThe NFL will NOT allow too many more years to pass without a team calling the 2nd largest media market in the USA home. As popular as the NFL is, that’s insanity for any pro sports league. There is more than enough money in and around Los Angeles / SoCal to get a deal done, with enough revenue-generating opportunities (Personal Seat Licenses, naming rights, parking, infrastructure ownership, etc.) in addition to the league’s revenue-sharing AND merchandising to provide more $$$ than the Wilfs will ever in their wildest fantasies realize in the frozen tundra of Minneapolis.

That Minnesota was in grave danger of a home playoff game blackout proves the unwillingness of the Minnesota buying public to pay extra money for the entire strip of playoff games, much less for Personal Seat Licenses. Not enough money in Minneapolis, plenty of it in Los Angeles. It’s all about the dollars.

Today’s NFL owner always keeps an eye on how much he or she can realize by selling his or her team and/or selling out a city–an exit strategy. Wayne Huizenga and Art Modell both cashed in big recently by selling majority stakes in their teams. The Wilf family is like every other owner these days, always thinking about their exit strategy. Los Angeles would provide plenty of $$$ on exit.

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