NFL: STUDY SHOWS ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR L.A. TEAM.

Byline: BILLY WITZ Staff Writer

If the NFL is concerned whether there is enough of a thirst in Los Angeles for suites, club seats and personal seat licenses -- key financing components for a new or rebuilt stadium -- it shouldn't worry, said Los Angeles Sports Council president David Simon.

``There is clearly a market. The demand exists,'' Simon said after releasing a study conducted by a group of students at UCLA's Anderson School of Business that asserts that sports pumped $1.66 billion into the local economy last year.

The study says that figure represents a 62 percent increase in revenues over the past decade, a majority of which have come from increases in ticket prices. Attendance has also continued to increase.

The sports industry is growing at a faster rate than the national, state and local economies, according to the report.

As the NFL ponders a return to Los Angeles, a group of owners last week questioned if there would be enough support from the business community to make an $800 million stadium at the Coliseum or in Anaheim profitable.

Simon said some current suite holders at Staples Center or Dodger Stadium might not be able to also afford NFL suites, but ``is there someone else in line to take his place? The answer is yes.''

The study relied on a survey of 52 organizations -- from the Rose Bowl to the Dodgers to Cal State Northridge and the U.S. Open of Surfing -- that asked for total revenues, number of employees and attendance.

The study also found that Los Angeles County accounted for 74.7 percent of the total revenue generated. Orange County comprised 20.5 percent.

billy.witz(at)dailynews.com

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