"It's really hard to think of another place in New York City that has fallen so short of its potential for economic development, " said Jonathan Bowles, the center's director.

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Kyle Pierce, a professor of kinesiology at Louisiana State-Shreveport, which houses the USA Weightlifting Development Center, says Ms. Uhlaender has plenty of potential.

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But an events center and football stadium in the City of Industry will not maximize the long term economic development potential that a new facility could have upon the economics of the Los Angeles region.

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