[Elvis]

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/new ... o-make-it/

Choice is clear, but Spanos has to make it
Chargers owner must decide between L.A. riches, San Diego’s love

by Kevin Acee



Dean Spanos reached San Diego officials by phone on Thursday night to let them know he was sorting through his options.

Hopefully, he wasn’t just keeping them on the line.

Talking to Mayor Kevin Faulconer and county Supervisor Ron Roberts was the right thing to do. But now Spanos needs to actually do something — like prove San Diegans are wrong about him.

To this point it seems the Chargers chairman is more interested in — and perhaps better suited for — being irrelevant in L.A. than being the keeper of San Diego’s civic treasure.

That’s what his (lack of) actions tell us.

However, it is not too late for Spanos to be the hero.

He has his choice of proposals awaiting his approval in Los Angeles, either of which would make him and his family much richer than they already are and richer than their team remaining in San Diego would make them.

“At least 10 teams would be lined up to take the deal if they wouldn’t,” said a source familiar with the partnership propositions the league and Los Angeles Rams have devised, which call for the Spanos family to become equal partners in the development of the stadium or have them enter into a revenue-sharing venture as tenants.

Even conservative projections by economists have revenue possibilities in L.A. being three to five times more than in San Diego. Such is the capacity of the corporate community in the nation’s second-largest market.

In light of that, it must be considered the more noble choice for Spanos to keep the Chargers here. At the very least, it could be spun that way and San Diegans could choose to embrace such a portrayal.

The reality is, provided Faulconer and other officials back up their words of willingness to be flexible, giving it another try in San Diego should not be a difficult decision for Spanos.

There is still money to be made in San Diego — and possibly with less invested than some might think, should the city and Chargers be able to agree on a convention center-stadium project downtown. Additionally, there are indications the NFL could help more than the $100 million gift already promised toward construction of a San Diego stadium.

For Spanos, this is also a choice between the risk the Chargers become the third team in Southern California or the guarantee they forever remain the No.1 team in San Diego.

See, the Oakland Raiders are waiting to pounce. Spanos has to know if the Raiders come to San Diego and his team falls short of winning a Super Bowl in L.A., the Chargers will, in essence, be neither here nor there.

San Diego officials won’t say anything about another NFL team’s interest in our fine city, but they are aware of it. Their tone with league officials even changed over time, from one focused solely on keeping the Chargers to a desire to keep San Diego an NFL city.

Faulconer is playing his hand well.

In his state of the city address Thursday, Faulconer spoke passionately about San Diego fans supporting the Chargers through good and bad times. From the dais, Faulconer practically yelled the truth that the Chargers won’t benefit from that kind of loyalty in Los Angeles.

The mayor sometimes gleams with political polish, but he nailed being indignant on Thursday.

San Diego loves the Chargers like no one else ever will.

We can still show that kind of love for Spanos. He can finally show it for us.

After the news conference, standing in a hallway inside a Houston hotel late Tuesday night, Spanos was still processing events that had quickly transformed a portion of his reality. And one thing had not changed. His face grew red and his eyes grew wide and his voice grew louder as he privately professed a steadfast desire to stay in San Diego.

Believe it. He also feels he doesn’t have a choice.

But he does. He has to be willing to go back to the place where he is willing to give it a chance.

If he has it in him, he should get the lucrative deal in place in Los Angeles. Then, leverage in hand, he should return to San Diego and get the right deal done.

[email protected]

[Stranger]

#clueless

[Hacksaw]

"After the news conference, standing in a hallway inside a Houston hotel late Tuesday night, Spanos was still processing events that had quickly transformed a portion of his reality. And one thing had not changed. His face grew red and his eyes grew wide and his voice grew louder as he privately professed a steadfast desire to stay in San Diego.

Believe it. He also feels he doesn’t have a choice.

But he does. He has to be willing to go back to the place where he is willing to give it a chance.

If he has it in him, he should get the lucrative deal in place in Los Angeles. Then, leverage in hand, he should return to San Diego and get the right deal done."

What have we been saying. And the Raiders swooping is a thinly veiled attempt to get Spanos to stay so they can get LA.

I'd rather have the Chargers. Can Davis afford LA?

[Hacksaw]

http://www.rams-news.com/cowherd-los-an ... ams-video/

CC gets it.

[LoyalRam]

So his franchise is worth double....but I really think the Chargers won't draw squat in LA...Especially if Oakland immediately starts making overatures in San Diego if they opt for LA. The Chargers are chasing 25% of their fanbase, and alienating the other 75%. It's freaking insane, unless he plans on selling the team after it's worth double to some rich billionaire sucker (not too many of those)...

[Hacksaw]

So his franchise is worth double....but I really think the Chargers won't draw squat in LA...Especially if Oakland immediately starts making overatures in San Diego if they opt for LA. The Chargers are chasing 25% of their fanbase, and alienating the other 75%. It's freaking insane, unless he plans on selling the team after it's worth double to some rich billionaire sucker (not too many of those)...

Flip tax makes that less likely.

[RedAlice]

So his franchise is worth double....but I really think the Chargers won't draw squat in LA...Especially if Oakland immediately starts making overatures in San Diego if they opt for LA. The Chargers are chasing 25% of their fanbase, and alienating the other 75%. It's freaking insane, unless he plans on selling the team after it's worth double to some rich billionaire sucker (not too many of those)...

Flip tax makes that less likely.

He is just simply an incapable business man. He's spoiled.

Sucks for the Charger fans.

I fully expect him to follow the path of least work and most money to him: totally based on what OTHER people tell him that path is.

The one thing JJ said about him that has been proven over and over: wishy/washy. Cannot make a decision for himself ever.