AEG fights dirty, calls Inglewood stadium a terrorism target

AEG is not happy about the efforts of competing Los Angeles-based cities to lure an NFL team and has decided to play dirty.

According to The Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer, AEG, which owns the LA Galaxy, LA Live, Staples Center, 50 percent of the LA Kings, and part of the Lakers, commissioned a study by a former Homeland Security officer that concluded the proposed stadium in Inglewood is a terrorism target.

From The Times:

In a 14-page report, Ridge suggests that because the Inglewood stadium proposed by St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke would lie within three to four miles of Los Angeles International Airport and beneath the flight path of airliners, terrorists might try to shoot down a plane or crash one into the stadium, scenarios Ridge described as “a terrorist event ‘twofer.’ “

Ridge is Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, who wrote the report. He said that the proposed stadium should give people “pause.”

Ridge said people “must be willing to accept the significant risk and the possible consequences …. This should give both public and private leaders in the area some pause.”

Those who proposed the Inglewood stadium on the Hollywood Park property say the stadium will comply with FAA regulations.

The Inglewood/Hollywood Park proposal seems to be the leader in the pursuit of an NFL team after city leaders voted unanimously during the week to begin construction on a stadium. The stadium would be constructed on land partially owned by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. AEG, which is headquartered in Downtown LA and owns Staples Center as previously mentioned, has long backed a proposed stadium in Downtown LA, which explains their opposition to the Inglewood proposal.