1ST DOWN, 30 TO GO AS NFL OWNERS START COLISEUM VISITS.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

The first owner from the National Football League toured the Los Angeles Coliseum on Friday in what local officials hope will be a continuing series of visits by the people who will decide if the city gets a team.

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, met briefly with Mayor Richard Riordan and Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas before taking the half-hour tour of Exposition Park and reviewing the plans for the Coliseum.

The NFL announced this week that Los Angeles would be the preferred city - over Houston - for a 32nd franchise and gave officials six months to meet a series of conditions.

Members of the NFL site selection committee are scheduled to come for a formal visit in April to review the Coliseum site being pushed by Ridley-Thomas through the New Coliseum Partners group of Eli Broad and Ed Roski as well as a site in Carson being pushed by Mike Ovitz.

Kraft, who serves on the NFL finance committee, arranged the tour through the New Coliseum Partners. It was not known whether he also viewed the Carson site.

``(Kraft) didn't give any indication of his thinking,'' said Pat Lynch, manager of the Coliseum. ``He just toured the facility. Hopefully, there will be a lot of tours by owners. We think our best chance is to show what we've got.''