NFL: STABBINGS DON'T SCARE BACKERS.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

For years, backers of the Coliseum have worked hard to change the perception among some NFL owners that the neighborhood around Exposition Park was too dangerous for the league to return.

Thus they were quick to say Wednesday, with the NFL set to make a decision on whether to choose a stadium site in Los Angeles, that a recent stabbing of eight people at a Sports Arena concert shouldn't be a concern to any owners.

"I don't think it's a setback at all," said Coliseum Commission member Bernard Parks, the former Los Angeles police chief. "These things happen. It was unfortunate, but this is not the norm."

The stabbings occurred March25 at a Rock En Espanol concert at the Sports Arena, when a man with a knife suddenly began stabbing people around him, according to Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Daniel Ellison.

At least three or four of the stabbing victims were transported to a hospital, but none were in critical condition, Ellison said. No arrests have been made over the incident, which police believe stemmed from someone being under the influence of drugs or alcohol since there was no attempt to rob any of the victims.

"This appears to be an isolated incident," Ellison said. "There are Hispanic and rock concerts at the Coliseum and Sports Arena from time to time and that's the first one where a person has gone on a stabbing spree."

Coliseum general manager Pat Lynch, who informed the commission of the incident Wednesday at its monthly meeting, said everyone in the crowd of about 4,000 was patted down by security.

The Coliseum gained a reputation as an unruly place during the Raiders stay in Los Angeles, but Parks said any concerns about safety should be allayed by the record crowds at USC games and those who visit the museums in Exposition Park without incident.

Coliseum Commission president Yvonne Burke downplayed any concerns that NFL owners might have when they look at the merits of the Coliseum and Anaheim.

"Most of them live in urban areas and they experience this all the time," Burke said. "It's just somebody going crazy, which could just have easily happened at a post office in Anaheim or Oxnard.

"These concerts are tough events. I never have rap shows because no matter how good security is you can't control it. They have a soccer game in Europe and there's mass rioting. I don't think one little issues is going to be a problem."

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