Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Tuesday that he has known about the potential sale of Anschutz Entertainment Group "for some time" but said he did not expect a change in ownership to affect the company's plans for a downtown NFL stadium.
The company -- which owns STAPLES Center and the LA Live entertainment complex as well as championship sports teams including the Los Angeles Kings and L.A. Galaxy --announced late in the day that it was being put up for sale.
Villaraigosa said in a statement that he speaks with AEG President Tim Leiweke and company owner Philip Anschutz "on a regular basis" and had been kept in the loop.
"I have the commitment from both of them that this sale will not affect plans for an NFL team to return to Los Angeles in the near future and will not affect my support for moving ahead with Farmers Field and the Convention Center site," the mayor said.
City Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes AEG's L.A. Live entertainment complex and the proposed NFL stadium, said taxpayer interests would be “well-protected” in the event of a sale.
“Whoever steps into the shoes of the previous owner would have to fulfill all the responsibilities and obligations as the current owner,” she said. “The city has been well-negotiated and well-protected.”
Villaraigosa spokesman Peter Sanders said he did not think that a buyer had been identified and referred questions on that subject to AEG.
The City Council is 10 days away from a major vote on a $1.5-billion deal with AEG for a stadium and major renovation of the Convention Center. Asked if the mayor should have divulged the fluid situation surrounding AEG earlier, Sanders responded in an email: “No.”
