L.A. Live

Will Farmers Field Bring Football Back To Los Angeles?

Filed under: Sports, Real Estate Developments

Los Angeles got one step closer to the dream of having a football team today. Entertainment company AEG has announced that it has signed Farmers Insurance to a 30-year naming-rights deal for a new 68,000-seat football stadium in downtown Los Angeles near the booming L.A. Live complex and the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Staples Center, an area that is quickly becoming the new heart of Los Angeles.

The billion-dollar stadium with a retractable roof will be called Farmers Field and Los Angeles citizens have been promised that this new complex won't cost them a thing. The 30-year-deal has been called one of the largest naming-rights contract ever, a reported $650 million dollar deal. Because there is no team in place, while Farmers gets plenty of signage, there's no other media involved in the deal. But the decision paves the way for the long-range dream of having the NFL back in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on hand at the announcement expressing his excitement that football will be coming back to Los Angeles. Also in attendance was former Laker great Magic Johnson, who sold part of his stake in the Lakers to focus on bringing the NFL back to L.A., a city without a team since 1994. The question of course is which team. There has been talk of having the San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles. Other teams which could become L.A.'s dream team include the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Gallery: The Plans For Farmers Field

Tags: farmers field, farmers insurance, l.a. live, los angeles nfl, staples center

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New Ritz-Carlton Opens in Los Angeles

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

On April 2, 2010, a brand new Ritz-Carlton opened its doors at the L.A. Live complex, steps away from the Los Angeles Convention Center, the STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY Museum and plenty of bars and restaurants. Basically, it's the only luxury hotel at LA 's one destination where you don't need a car to have a good time.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is a 54-story tower with 123 guestrooms including a 3,000 square foot Ritz-Carlton Suite with a piano, entertainment room, media corner, lounge, kitchen, formal dining area and spectacular northern and western views. The 24th floor features a brand new Wolfgang Puck restaurant, WP24 -- it has a "wine cave" -- and on the 26th floor guests can relax at the private rooftop pool and bar, as well as the 2,000 square foot fitness center.

The hotel is also home to downtown LA's only full-service hotel spa (a must-have after long days at the convention center) -- an 8,000 square foot facility which encapsulates the glamor of Hollywood with exclusive gold facials and champagne and citrus scrubs.

Together with its sister hotel, the JW Marriott Los Angeles, ample space is available for weddings and other functions, and the amenities and attractions of Beverly Hills and Hollywood are just a cab ride away.

Basically, it's hard to believe that a hotel like this didn't already exist to accommodate the luxury guests of downtown LA. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is the final, and perhaps most extravagant piece of the $2.5 billion L.A. Live project, which began with the STAPLES Center in 1999. Click here to be one of the first to book.

Gallery: The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles