Opinion: Interim NFL Team Could Bring Much Needed Jobs to Pasadena

Very soon the NFL may be in the market for a temporary home in Greater Los Angeles. I believe the Rose Bowl can fill that need as well as the opportunity for employment.

Thousands of Pasadena residents are out of work and others are struggling to make ends meet. Our city could benefit from the jobs.  Full-time, Part-time or seasonal jobs such as these can assist residents provide for the essential items to improve their quality of life. In simplest terms, these jobs can offer a chance for people who need it the most.

While a permanent stadium is being built, the NAACP (Pasadena Branch) strongly supports efforts to bring an L.A. NFL team to the Rose Bowl. I agree, no one is certain if a team is coming or where its ultimate home will be. – Downtown L.A. and the City of Industry are both seeking a team. Why close the door for Pasadena?  Pasadena needs to be ready.

In recent months, the City has commissioned an environmental study to determine the impact of such a move. What the Environmental Impact Report won’t show is how the presence of the NFL will bolster our local economy- creating jobs, directly and indirectly.  Even if for only 10 games a year – two preseason and eight regular games – the positive impact on the lives of the unemployed or underemployed is significant.

As in other cities, the NFL would also create opportunities for many Pasadena’s businesses, small and large. Based on what experience has shown in other communities, millions of dollars a year would be pumped into the Pasadena economy. Those dollars translate into job opportunities for locals and our neighbors.

Since we have the chance- there are a few things the City could do. Join me in supporting an NFL team to call the Rose Bowl home for a few short years.

We’ve encountered a difficult economy, and still face a gradual climb upward. For many, the NFL at the Rose Bowl could be a natural bridge to better days ahead.