The Houston Chronicle's Bernardo Fallas reports that Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer (as well as the L.A. Beckhams, er, Galaxy), is negotiating with the city of Houston to build a soccer-specific stadium for the club. The Dynamo, formerly known as the San Jose Earthquakes, moved to Texas before last season. According to Fallas, "The price tag for the proposed venue — a stand-alone stadium with limited shade — stands around $70 million. Private investment would be key to making it become a reality. While [Dynamo president Oliver] Luck declined to discuss financial details of AEG's involvement, he said the company would provide a 'substantial investment.'"
Meanwhile, over the weekend, the Denver Post profiled Phil Anschutz and his far-flung empire (although –- surprise! -- the author of the story, Post staff writer Tom McGhee, did not get a face-to-face interview with media-phobic Anschutz). Regarding AEG's LA Live project, being constructed across the street from Staples, McGhee writes that, "the up-to-$290 million in hotel tax rebates that the Los Angeles City Council approved for the property last year drew the ire of many Angelenos.
" Joel Kotkin, author of 'The City: A Global History,' was one of those who opposed the tax breaks. 'The whole LA Live is an absurdity for a city like LA that has a huge, and unsubsidized, entertainment industry. Stuff like ESPN Zone and other packaged entertainment is not necessary for a city like ours. If you are bored in L.A., get another life,' he said in an e-mail response to a query."
