Local figures in NFL bid, boxing, motorsports set for impact.

CALL them players to be named later. Any number of influential Southern California sports business figures will likely come from quickly growing areas like action sports or motorsports, although whoever plays a lead role in bringing pro football back to Los Angeles is likely to have the most substantial impact. Meantime, keep an eye on the following areas for sports business players:

Hispanic Market

L.A. County's Hispanic population grew by more than 28 percent between 1990 and 2000, giving that group, with its disposable income and passion for sports, extraordinary influence.

Behind the scenes, A. Jerrold Perenchio, chairman of Univision Communications Inc., could be an important player if he decides to move the network's sports marketing operations to its West Coast facilities from New York. Out front, East L.A.-reared boxer Oscar De La Hoya has already made strides outside the ring, redeveloping the old Resurrection Gym into a youth center, donating the land for a Boyle Heights charter school bearing his name and launching Golden Boy Promotions LLC in 2002. "He could be what Magic Johnson is to the African-American community," said David Carter, principal of the Sports Business Group. "He transcends race."

Lifestyle and Action Sports

As formerly fringe sports rooted in Southern California, such as beach volleyball and skateboarding, continue to go mainstream, its most important figures will grow in regional influence.

Leonard Armato first made his mark as the agent who brokered Shaquille O'Neal's deal to join the Lakers in 1996. Cofounder of the Associated Volleyball Professionals in 1983, Armato, who is married to beach volleyball star Holly McPeak, led a group of investors in buying the nearly defunct AVP in 2001 and, as commissioner, has since signed on NBC and Fox Sports to broadcasting contracts.

Tony Hawk continues to be the most recognizable brand in action sports, promoting national skate tours, appearing in ads and providing the branding for the best-selling computer game title from Santa Monica-based Activision Inc.

The insistence by Electronic Arts' Los Angeles General Manager John Batter that his studios remain in L.A. was key to the Redwood City-based firm's consolidation at Playa Vista's Water's Edge complex. Between the EA and Activision operations, Southern California will remain at the epicenter of the sports games software publishing market.

Motorsports

Richard Glover and Tom Compton could soon join California Speedway President Bill Miller in the motorsports wing of local influential players. A former ESPN executive, Glover was named vice president of broadcasting and new media of NASCAR in September and runs the organization's Century City television and media studios. Compton heads the Glendora-based National Hot Rod Association, which, with more than 85,000 members and 2 million spectators annually, bills itself as the world's largest motor sports organization.

Greg Penske, son of racing legend Roger Penske, is also poised to be a major financial player in the region's growing motorsports market. He has already leveraged the Penske name to build the Penske Automotive Group's five Southern California auto dealerships, including Longo Toyota.

Amateur/Olympics

Former Olympians Bob Ctvrtlik and Julie Foudy could also have a major impact on the Southern California sports scene should they choose to focus their efforts locally. Ex-volleyball player Ctvrtlik has been on the International Olympic Committee since 1999 and became a board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency a year later. And earlier this month, former U.S. national soccer team captain Foudy was named to a four-person committee that will pick the U.S. Olympic Committee's board.

Football

The NFL's return to Los Angeles is likely to spring at least one local political figure onto the list of influential players--the question remains who, when and where.

Hopkins Real Estate Group has an agreement to buy the 157-acre Carson site considered by the NFL, but it's City Manager Jerry Groomes, key to the completion of Anschutz Entertainment Group's Home Depot Center, who would be that city's point man should a stadium be built. As for the Los Angeles Coliseum, Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas and 8th District City Councilman Bernard Parks continue to push the venerable site as a viable football option.

If the NFL does not move to Carson, either Pat Lynch or Daryl Dunn could stand to gain a substantial amount of local influence as general managers of the Coliseum and Rose Bowl, respectively.