Sports

Angel Stadium land sale one step closer to being finalized after judge’s ruling

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2022

Angel Stadium land sale one step closer to being finalized after judge’s ruling

The Angel Stadium land sale moved one big step nearer to completion Monday, when a choose dominated the town of Anaheim had not violated the state’s public transparency legislation in negotiating the deal.

“There is no such thing as a foundation to nullify the choice to promote the stadium website,” Orange County Superior Courtroom Decide David Hoffer wrote in his tentative ruling Monday.

Hoffer dismissed what was offered as key proof — declarations by metropolis Councilman Jose Moreno and former Metropolis Supervisor Chris Zapata — as “not credible” and mentioned he had thought of six claims made by a residents’ group that sued the town to cease the deal.

“None of those claims have benefit,” Hoffer wrote.

Hoffer gave both sides 10 days to object earlier than his ruling turns into remaining. If that occurs, the town would face one remaining impediment in finishing the sale.

In December, the California Division of Housing and Group Improvement dominated that the sale violated state reasonably priced housing legislation. The state and metropolis have mentioned a negotiated decision, almost definitely with the town paying a $96-million positive that might then be used to increase reasonably priced housing elsewhere in Anaheim. Town additionally may sue the state.

If that hurdle is cleared, the town may proceed with a deal authorised in 2019, underneath which an organization managed by Angels proprietor Arte Moreno would flip the 150-acre stadium website right into a mini-city by constructing houses, retailers, eating places, inns and workplaces on what’s now a sea of parking tons surrounding Angel Stadium.

The workforce would stay in Anaheim by at the very least 2050, and Moreno may determine whether or not to renovate the present ballpark or construct a brand new one. Town would get $150 million in money, plus the inclusion of parkland and at the very least 466 models of reasonably priced housing, and projected tax income of $652 million to metropolis coffers over 30 years, in accordance with an financial impression research commissioned by Moreno. Town’s consultants reviewed and backed that research; Anaheim didn’t fee its personal research.

A rendering of proposed improvement at Angel Stadium.

(SRB Administration)

A rendering of a street lined with cafes.

In a press release, Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu mentioned the tentative ruling was the proper one.

“This validates that the stadium sale was an in depth public course of with group enter and debate,” Sidhu mentioned. “We look ahead to a remaining choice and shifting forward with a plan for the way forward for baseball in Anaheim that may generate income for our residents and neighborhoods for years to return.”

Of their declarations, Jose Moreno and Zapata testified that the council agreed to promote the property — slightly than lease it — and did so behind closed doorways, thus misusing an exception to state legislation that enables closed-door dialogue of “value and phrases.” Town and the Angels, in accordance with metropolis data, didn’t have interaction in negotiations till two months later.

“It merely doesn’t stand to cause that the Metropolis would comply with promote the stadium website with out figuring out precisely what they might obtain for it,” Hoffer wrote.

Hoffer additionally wrote that even when he accepted what Moreno and Zapata needed to say, there would have been nothing incorrect with the town holding a closed-door dialogue of whether or not to promote whereas limiting public disclosure of the dialogue to “value and phrases” of a possible deal.

“For a legislative physique to debate value with none dialogue of whether or not the value is for a sale or a lease would result in an absurdity,” Hoffer wrote.

Hoffer additionally dominated that two public hearings had offered enough alternative for public enter earlier than the Metropolis Council authorised the deal and, later, the event plan.

“The discussions and choice surrounding the sale of the stadium website have been something however secret,” Hoffer wrote.

Kelly Aviles, legal professional for the Folks’s Homeless Process Drive — the residents’ group that sued — mentioned in a press release that she disagreed with the ruling. The general public hearings Hoffer cited came about instantly earlier than the council voted to ratify agreements reached between metropolis workers and Arte Moreno’s firm, not through the strategy of negotiations.

“Permitting public participation solely after the deal was finalized is just not what the Brown Act meant and doesn’t serve the general public’s skill to have an effect on the method, as is the intent of the Brown Act,” Aviles mentioned.

Throughout a court docket listening to earlier this month, Hoffer mentioned he anticipated that the shedding aspect would attraction. Aviles mentioned no choice has but been made on whether or not to attraction however mentioned she anticipated such a choice “quickly.”

Though a court docket may put the sale on maintain pending attraction, that’s thought of unlikely. Within the listening to, the events mentioned potential penalties that didn’t contain nullifying the deal, which means a court docket may let the sale go ahead and think about different choices for punishing Anaheim ought to the town later be present in violation of the legislation.

In a footnote, Hoffer forged Jose Moreno and Zapata in an unfavorable mild for disclosing closed-session discussions, regardless that they believed they have been disclosing wrongdoing.

“This court docket disapproves of the general public disclosure of confidential info obtained in closed-sessions with out the authorization of the council and with out even trying to acquire court docket approval,” Hoffer wrote. The italics have been his.

Sports

Danielle Collins thanks booing Australian Open crowd for ‘big fat pay check’ after beating home hope

Published

2 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Danielle Collins thanks booing Australian Open crowd for ‘big fat pay check’ after beating home hope

Danielle Collins thanked a hostile Australian Open crowd for helping to fund her next vacation after beating its last home hope in the women’s draw.

Collins beat Destanee Aiava 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 to set up a third-round meeting with U.S. compatriot Madison Keys.

As the crowd booed her while she took the mic for her post-match interview, she told them that she was thinking of that “big fat pay check” on her way to victory.

“Coco and I love a good five-star vacation,” the No. 10 seed said in reference to CoCo Vandeweghe. “So part of that check is going to go towards that. So thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight.”

At the end of the first set, Collins blew kisses to the crowd as she sat, before repeating the trick at the end of the match.

“Thanks guys, love ya,” she said on her way off court.

Little bit of prime “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan about Danielle Collins post match!#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/nyusDgt3PP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025

Later in her post-match press conference, she added: “One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is the people that don’t like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills. It’s kind of a cool concept.

“Every person that’s bought a ticket to come out here and heckle me, it’s all going towards the Danielle Collins Fund. Bring it on. I love it.”

Collins, 31, who Coco Gauff said “is always going to be Danielle,” in a recent news conference, is not the first player to give something back to the partisan crowd — Jack Draper celebrated a five-set victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis by cupping his ear to the Australians.

Collins, a finalist in Melbourne in 2022, is unwilling to cede ground to hostility from fans and players, real or imagined.

At the Paris Olympics, Collins had a tense exchange with then world No. 1 Iga Swiatek after retiring from their Olympic quarterfinal with an injury. “I just told her not to be insincere about my injury. I don’t need the fakeness,” Collins said afterwards, drawing a befuddled reaction from Swiatek.

Collins blew kisses to the crowd in Melbourne (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Collins, who postponed her retirement from tennis after learning that her endometriosis would cause complications with her plan to start a family, has been open about how difficult that journey has been.

“You feel like you’re chasing your tail sometimes with the news that you get from your doctors because it can feel like Groundhog Day,” she told The Athletic in November.

“Other times you feel like, ‘Wow, I’ve done treatment, I’ve had surgery. And yet this thing continues to be an issue.’ And you think, ‘How is it like this?’ But that’s the thing with endometriosis, it’s not this like a tangible thing that you can just fix and that it can just go away. It doesn’t really go away.”

GO DEEPER

‘I’ve settled into my skin’: Danielle Collins is ready to play on

(Top photo: William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Sports

Fever reveal plans for $78 million training center after Caitlin Clark's historic season

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Fever reveal plans for million training center after Caitlin Clark's historic season

The Caitlin Clark effect has paid off in a big way for the Indiana Fever and women’s basketball.

Pacers Sports & Entertainment unveiled its $78 million plan to build a “world-class” performance center in downtown Indianapolis exclusively for its WNBA team, which is expected to open before the start of the 2027 season.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the first half of Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena Sept. 25, 2024. (Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images)

“We are excited to partner with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to identify the perfect location for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center,” PS&E Owner Herb Simon said in a statement. “The city of Indianapolis continues to be a tremendous partner as we elevate our team, players and community.”

The 108,000-square-foot practice center will be connected to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where both the Fever and the Indiana Pacers play, and construction is expected to begin in August 2025.

According to a press release from the team, the design of the center will be geared toward “the specific needs of female athletes competing at the highest level, including performance and conditioning, recovery and rehabilitation, mental health and wellness and lifestyle support.”

“This elite training center is a reflection of our organization’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that our players have the highest level of resources to be successful,” Indiana Fever president of basketball and business operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement provided by the team.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots as the Dallas Wings’ Jacy Sheldon (4) and Natasha Howard, right, defend in the first half of a WNBA game Sept. 1, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

EX-NOTRE DAME COACH OPENS UP ON CAITLIN CLARK BACKING OUT OF COMMITMENT: ‘I MAY STILL BE COACHING IF SHE CAME’

“As we look to the future, the focus of creating a first-class player experience designed exclusively for women athletes will set us apart.”

The new center will have two regulation courts, a full-service kitchen and areas dedicated to yoga and Pilates. In addition, the team said other features incorporated into the design include “a hair and nail salon, child care space and podcast and content production studio to support player lifestyles.”

The Fever have their own standalone training center at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which was last renovated in 2020.

Clark’s historic rookie season generated record numbers for the WNBA, both in viewership and attendance. For the first time in league history, the league announced full-time charter flights for all its teams in May, which were projected to cost around $25 million per year for the next two seasons.

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts after a 3-pointer during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Aug. 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Las Vegas, Seattle and Phoenix have all opened new training centers in the last few years, and Chicago has one under construction.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sports

Rams' Jared Verse primed for playoffs in City of Brotherly Love: 'I hate Eagles fans'

Published

3 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Rams' Jared Verse primed for playoffs in City of Brotherly Love: 'I hate Eagles fans'

Jared Verse spent three years of high school in Pennsylvania.

So the Rams rookie edge rusher knows all about the Philadelphia Eagles, his team’s opponent Sunday in an NFC divisional-round playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Was Verse an Eagles fan?

“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse told The Times on Thursday. “They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”

Verse repeated the phrase multiple times. And the front-runner for NFL rookie defensive player of the year did so with passion evident in his pass rushing.

“When I see that green and white I hate it. I actually get upset. Like I actually genuinely get hot.”

— Rams linebacker Jared Verse, on how he hates the Philadelphia Eagles

Verse noted that when the Rams played the Eagles in November at SoFi Stadium, Eagles fans in attendance gave him an earful of obscenities that he could make out despite wearing headphones.

“I didn’t even do nothing to ‘em,” he said, “It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans.”

The Eagles’ uniform colors also are apparently triggering.

“When I see that green and white I hate it,” he said. “I actually get upset. Like I actually genuinely get hot.”

Verse, however, added he would be disciplined Sunday, stay on his assignments and contribute to a Rams defense that must control running back Saquon Barkley if coach Sean McVay’s team is to avenge its 37-20 defeat to the Eagles and advance to the NFC championship game.

In November, Barkley amassed 302 total yards against the Rams, including 255 yards rushing, and scored on runs of 72 and 70 yards. The Rams were out of position to make tackles and also missed Barkley multiple times.

Verse acknowledged his role in the debacle. Several times, he said, opportunities to limit Barkley to a short gain went awry and resulted in long runs because he tried to do too much.

“I just didn’t take advantage of them,” he said. “I left my feet.”

In the seven games since, Verse said he has improved in that regard.

In last Monday’s 27-9 wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Verse showed how fleet he was on his feet.

The Rams’ Jared Verse dives into the end zone for a score after returning a fumble 57 yards against the Vikings during their NFC wild-card playoff game.

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

The former high school sprinter scooped a fumble by quarterback Sam Darnold and dashed 57 yards for a touchdown. NFL’s Next Gen Stats clocked Verse at 19.88 mph

“I’ve been trying to show coach McVay that I can play wide receiver or running back — whatever he needs me to do,” Verse said.

Verse, the 19th player chosen in the 2024 draft, said whenever he recovered a fumble in college an opposing player tackled him before he could run.

Against the Vikings, Verse had a clear path to the end zone.

“I was like, if I got five yards, then nobody is catching me, I’m like gone,” he said. “So once I got my five in, like it’s over with. So I was just trying to see how fast I could get.”

Verse is one of the top players for a young Rams defensive front that is excelling in the post-Aaron Donald era. Against the Vikings, the Rams tied an NFL postseason record with nine sacks.

Verse has 4½ sacks and was among the league leaders this season in quarterback pressures.

On Sunday, he once again goes up against an Eagles line that features two-time All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson and left tackle Jordan Mailata.

In the first game between the teams, Verse created a viral moment when he ran over the 6-8, 366-pound Mailata.

“I remember when I got flat-backed,” Mailata told Philadelphia reporters this week. “It was a good rush by him.

“The guy plays with a high motor. I think he plays well, he plays hard. He’s got some great moves. … To be fair, I got a couple on him too. Good on good.”

Verse continues to bull rush and remains exceptionally quick at the snap, Johnson said.

“He plays hard, really has come along in the run game too,” Johnson told Philadelphia reporters. “He’s just one of those players that’s obviously really talented. The more experience he gets, the better he’s going to become.”

Verse, the only Rams player selected to the Pro Bowl Games, is expected to be among the postseason award finalists in New Orleans during Super Bowl week.

But he aims to be playing in the big game.

“I’ve never been focused on the results of anything,” he said when asked about awards talk. “If I do what I’m supposed to do, everything else will come with it.

“This year, I might be in the conversation of winning that prestigious award — and I’m happy to be in that conversation.

“Next year, it’s trying to be in a bigger conversation. But that comes with work.”

Progress toward that goal continues Sunday when Verse plays against the Eagles — and in front of their fans — in their home stadium.

“I’m going to go crazy,” he said, adding that he would play within his role. “It’s going to be something.”

Etc.

The Rams designated inside linebacker Troy Reeder and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison to return to practice from injured reserve. … Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) and defensive lineman Bobby Brown III (shoulder) did not practice and tight end Tyler Higbee (chest) was limited. McVay said he expected that all would play Sunday.