Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle is meeting today with the NFL’s new commissioner, who inherits a plan to bring a football team back to Southern California.
Commissioner Roger Goodell also is meeting with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who’s vying with Pringle to land a team.
The visits are Goodell’s first to the area after being elected in August to succeed Paul Tagliabue as commissioner.
Competing stadium proposals from Anaheim and Los Angeles are before
NFL team owners.
Anaheim has approved plans to sell the league 53 acres next to Angel Stadium of Anaheim at a discounted $50 million for a football stadium.
Los Angeles wants to build a new stadium within downtown’s Memorial Coliseum.
Anaheim spokesman John Nicoletti said the NFL commissioner is set to meet with Pringle in Orange County following Villaraigosa’s meeting in Los Angeles.
“The commissioner is the one on the move,” said Nicoletti, who added he exchanged e-mails with Pringle early Friday.
Nicoletti couldn’t say whether Goodell might be invited by Pringle to attend tonight’s opening game for the Anaheim Ducks hockey team against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center.
Anaheim has two boxes at the city-owned center with Pringle expected to be on hand for the game.
“Our mayor is a huge Anaheim Ducks fan. So he’s probably meeting the commissioner somewhere nearby,” he said.
