LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill designed to boost developer Anschutz Entertainment Group’s bid to build a $1.2 billion football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.
The bill signed Tuesday would expedite legal challenges to AEG’s project, sending any lawsuits over its environmental impact directly to the California Court of Appeal and bypassing the Superior Court. The appeals court would have to rule within 175 days.
AEG would thus avoid lengthy legal battles that could hold up the 72,000-seat stadium, which could break ground next June if it passes environmental muster and secures an NFL team. A rival group, Majestic Realty, has proposed an alternate project outside Los Angeles.
Brown says the stadium plan would create 12,000 construction jobs and 11,000 permanent jobs.
