CITY TO PAY A CALL ON NFL OWNERS OFFICIALS INTEND TO STRESS $115 MILLION COLISEUM PLAN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Armed with a $115 million plan to revitalize the area around the Memorial Coliseum, city officials prepared on Monday to make a pitch this week to NFL owners to return a professional football team to Los Angeles.

Although the owners are not scheduled to formally discuss ``the L.A. situation,'' or where they should spend some $500 million to build a new stadium, most believe Los Angeles or Anaheim would be the top choice for an expansion or relocation team.

Three local officials plan to be in Kansas City for the National Football League owners meeting to let them know Los Angeles is serious about hosting a team.

``We have made remarkable progress and a turnaround in attitudes in the last two years,'' said City Councilman Bernard Parks, who has spearheaded an effort to return pro football to Los Angeles after a 10-year absence.

``What we are going to let the owners know is that we are ready and able to take on a team almost immediately.''

Earlier this month, the City Council signaled its willingness to bring a team to Los Angeles by extending a $115 million redevelopment project for the area around the Coliseum, including Exposition Park.

Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch told the Ad Hoc Stadium Committee on Monday that he is confident a new stadium - built within the existing walls of the Coliseum to preserve its historic status - could be completed within two years and constructed in such a way to allow USC to continue playing in the facility.

``Keeping USC in the Coliseum is one of the top considerations we have,'' Lynch said.

Parks, Lynch and Coliseum Commission President Bill Chadwick all will be attending the NFL owners' meetings, which begin today.

``It might be they just see us sitting in the lobby, and they ask their staff, What are those L.A. guys doing here? Maybe we should discuss the L.A. situation,'' Lynch joked.

Lynch said the agenda for the owners meetings focuses on collective bargaining and revenue sharing, and that no decision on Los Angeles was expected until a meeting scheduled for March.

Still, Chadwick said, it is important for Los Angeles officials to be there this week so the owners know the city is still interested and available to respond to any issues that arise.

Speculation has centered on relocating the New Orleans Saints - forced from their home by the destruction of Hurricane Katrina - but Parks said the city would wait to see how the situation plays out.

``It is up to the NFL to decide where teams play,'' Parks said. ``If a team moves here on its own, without the league's permission, there won't be the money for a new stadium and there wouldn't be much chance of getting a Super Bowl in the future.''

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sent a letter of support to the committee, saying he hoped professional football does return.

``The economic impact of bringing the NFL back to the city of Los Angeles is significant,'' Villaraigosa said, adding he was also pleased that city, county and state officials were working so well together on the project.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com