This may be the last season LA is without an NFL team
PostPosted:9 years 4 months ago
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/2015091 ... n-nfl-team
This may be the last season LA is without an NFL team
By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News
LA Rams fans hopeful that city's 20-year NFL drought is coming to an end. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/LA Daily News)
Grill? Check.
Brats, steaks and burgers? Absolutely.
Cold beverages? Done.
Great, looks like Los Angeles has everything in place to throw a National Football League tailgate party to kick off the new season.
Hold up, what are we missing?
It’s something important.
But what?
Think, people.
Oh, right.
Stadium? No.
Team? Negative.
Oh well, maybe next year?
Seems like we’ve been saying that every year since the Raiders and Rams up and left us 20 years ago. But for the first time since our beloved football teams broke our hearts and fled to Oakland and St. Louis, we can legitimately and realistically begin thinking about life in Los Angeles again with the NFL.
More than likely beginning with the 2016 season.
Currently, the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders are pushing to relocate together to Carson, where they are proposing a jointly owned stadium off the 405 freeway.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams are focused on Inglewood, where owner Stan Kroenke is proposing a stadium on the site of the old Hollywood Park race track.
The NFL says it will approve two teams for Los Angeles, max, and one stadium site. The league hopes to decide by January what teams or teams are granted relocation approval and what stadium they’ll call home.
In a little over three weeks the NFL’s 32 owners will gather in New York to discuss, among other things, where things stand on potential relocation to Los Angeles. Beyond that, there is an owners meeting in Dallas in December, at which point a clearer picture might emerge.
Keep in mind, any relocation must be approved by 24 of the 32 league owners.
In the meantime, plenty of work is being done behind the scenes to make sure the league is ready to roll as soon as a decision is made.
And while lobbying is going on by both sides to convince enough fellow owners to see things their way, the NFL is also trying to gauge where owners stand. The hope is to negotiate a solution in which all three teams walk away satisfied, and in the process avoid an ugly, contentious vote on the floor.
After doing some poking around, here is the latest on what’s going on.
RAMS PUSHING FOR LA
Missouri leaders are working toward finalizing a $1 billion stadium plan they hope convinces the NFL to lock the Rams in St. Louis long-term, although it doesn’t appear the St. Louis stadium task force will present an official plan to league owners at the October meeting.
The league, though, remains highly interested in what Missouri and St. Louis ultimately come up with.
Nevertheless, the Rams remain fully committed to relocating to Los Angeles. That doesn’t mean they’ll get their wish, but they are determined to move to Los Angeles no matter what Missouri and St. Louis offer.
There is also flexibility on the Rams’ part to bringing on a partner if it helps them achieve their Los Angeles objectives, although the Chargers and Raiders are adamant they will not break their partnership to work a deal with the Rams.
That could change if league support for Carson wanes and they are instructed to deal with Kroenke.
CHARGERS FOCUSED ON CARSON, NOT SAN DIEGO
The NFL is hopeful San Diego leaders can follow through on the stadium plan they are pushing in Mission Valley, but a key deadline set by mayor Kevin Faulconer to schedule a public vote on whether taxpayers should help pay for the new stadium came and went Friday.
The missed deadline further illustrates the lack of faith the Chargers have in the ability of city leaders to secure a stadium plan. And why they are so adamant about pushing forward on Carson.
The Los Angeles News Group recently spent time with Chargers owner Dean Spanos, and he expressed deep concern about missing out on Los Angeles while he waits out what he considers a doomed San Diego stadium plan. In other words, it’s full steam ahead to Carson.
IS OAKLAND OUT OF THE PICTURE?
While the NFL is hopeful about getting a plan on the table from San Diego and St. Louis, the same can not be said about Oakland. From the perspective of the Raiders and the NFL, there is simply nothing viable going on in the Bay Area. With Oakland fading, the Raiders are determined to join the Chargers in Carson.
It is incumbent on everyone to preserve flexibility — at the very least, one team will miss out on Los Angeles — and for the Raiders that means keeping an open mind to San Diego, should the Rams and Chargers partner in Inglewood, or San Antonio.
The Raiders have made three things abundantly clear, though. They will not move to St. Louis, as is sometimes speculated. They will not join the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. And owner Mark Davis will not sell controlling interest of the Raiders.
TEMPORARY LA HOMES
Obviously if the NFL approves one or two teams for Los Angeles relocation, they will need temporary homes until either the Carson or Inglewood stadium is built.
Thus far, only the Coliseum has stepped forward and agreed to work with the NFL as a potential temporary site. The Rose Bowl and StubHub Center have both declined involvement, and there is concern from Dodger and Angel stadiums about scheduling conflicts.
Nevertheless, the NFL remains confident a solution will be found in time to house two teams, if necessary, beginning in 2016. And don’t be surprised if either the Rose Bowl or StubHub Center — or the two baseball stadiums — jump back into the picture as soon as the team or teams moving to L.A. are identified.
REALIGNMENT TALK
If the Chargers and Raiders get the nod to Los Angeles, one of them will have to move out of the AFC West Division. It seems illogical to have teams in the same division sharing a stadium and playing each other twice each season. And while I’ve been told some clubs have made their strong viewpoints known on realignment, it’s still premature at the moment. In fact, even if realignment is necessary, it probably won’t happen in time for the 2016 season.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Per the NFL’s relocation process, a series of town hall meetings will take place in Oakland. San Diego and St. Louis to give local fans a chance to be heard. I’m told the NFL is closing in on identifying and announcing the dates and sites of those meetings.
LA TICKET PRIORITY LIST
The NFL is contemplating setting up a Los Angeles ticket priority list — or wait list — for the 2016 season. The problem, of course, is how to go about doing it while still unsure what team or teams will be entering the market. The league is also unsure whether to ask for deposits. Bottom line, don’t be surprised if news on that front pops fairly soon. It will be fascinating to see how many L.A. fans sign up, especially if they don’t know who the team is and where it’ll play.
STILL HOPE FOR SAN DIEGO, ST. LOUIS
For varying reasons, San Diego and St. Louis might lose their current teams within the next few months. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the door is shut on either as an NFL city.
Even if the Rams decline the Missouri stadium plan local leaders are working toward and they are approved for Los Angeles relocation, it seems likely a team in need of a stadium will immediately turn its attention to St. Louis. I have been told emphatically that will not be the Raiders, but in talking to various sources, the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to be mentioned.
And if the Chargers relocate to Los Angeles, San Diego immediately becomes the most coveted open market out there. In fact, a league source told me not to be surprised if San Diego soon begins courting another team. Depending how the dominoes fall, don’t be surprised if it’s the Raiders.
This may be the last season LA is without an NFL team
By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News
LA Rams fans hopeful that city's 20-year NFL drought is coming to an end. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/LA Daily News)
Grill? Check.
Brats, steaks and burgers? Absolutely.
Cold beverages? Done.
Great, looks like Los Angeles has everything in place to throw a National Football League tailgate party to kick off the new season.
Hold up, what are we missing?
It’s something important.
But what?
Think, people.
Oh, right.
Stadium? No.
Team? Negative.
Oh well, maybe next year?
Seems like we’ve been saying that every year since the Raiders and Rams up and left us 20 years ago. But for the first time since our beloved football teams broke our hearts and fled to Oakland and St. Louis, we can legitimately and realistically begin thinking about life in Los Angeles again with the NFL.
More than likely beginning with the 2016 season.
Currently, the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders are pushing to relocate together to Carson, where they are proposing a jointly owned stadium off the 405 freeway.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams are focused on Inglewood, where owner Stan Kroenke is proposing a stadium on the site of the old Hollywood Park race track.
The NFL says it will approve two teams for Los Angeles, max, and one stadium site. The league hopes to decide by January what teams or teams are granted relocation approval and what stadium they’ll call home.
In a little over three weeks the NFL’s 32 owners will gather in New York to discuss, among other things, where things stand on potential relocation to Los Angeles. Beyond that, there is an owners meeting in Dallas in December, at which point a clearer picture might emerge.
Keep in mind, any relocation must be approved by 24 of the 32 league owners.
In the meantime, plenty of work is being done behind the scenes to make sure the league is ready to roll as soon as a decision is made.
And while lobbying is going on by both sides to convince enough fellow owners to see things their way, the NFL is also trying to gauge where owners stand. The hope is to negotiate a solution in which all three teams walk away satisfied, and in the process avoid an ugly, contentious vote on the floor.
After doing some poking around, here is the latest on what’s going on.
RAMS PUSHING FOR LA
Missouri leaders are working toward finalizing a $1 billion stadium plan they hope convinces the NFL to lock the Rams in St. Louis long-term, although it doesn’t appear the St. Louis stadium task force will present an official plan to league owners at the October meeting.
The league, though, remains highly interested in what Missouri and St. Louis ultimately come up with.
Nevertheless, the Rams remain fully committed to relocating to Los Angeles. That doesn’t mean they’ll get their wish, but they are determined to move to Los Angeles no matter what Missouri and St. Louis offer.
There is also flexibility on the Rams’ part to bringing on a partner if it helps them achieve their Los Angeles objectives, although the Chargers and Raiders are adamant they will not break their partnership to work a deal with the Rams.
That could change if league support for Carson wanes and they are instructed to deal with Kroenke.
CHARGERS FOCUSED ON CARSON, NOT SAN DIEGO
The NFL is hopeful San Diego leaders can follow through on the stadium plan they are pushing in Mission Valley, but a key deadline set by mayor Kevin Faulconer to schedule a public vote on whether taxpayers should help pay for the new stadium came and went Friday.
The missed deadline further illustrates the lack of faith the Chargers have in the ability of city leaders to secure a stadium plan. And why they are so adamant about pushing forward on Carson.
The Los Angeles News Group recently spent time with Chargers owner Dean Spanos, and he expressed deep concern about missing out on Los Angeles while he waits out what he considers a doomed San Diego stadium plan. In other words, it’s full steam ahead to Carson.
IS OAKLAND OUT OF THE PICTURE?
While the NFL is hopeful about getting a plan on the table from San Diego and St. Louis, the same can not be said about Oakland. From the perspective of the Raiders and the NFL, there is simply nothing viable going on in the Bay Area. With Oakland fading, the Raiders are determined to join the Chargers in Carson.
It is incumbent on everyone to preserve flexibility — at the very least, one team will miss out on Los Angeles — and for the Raiders that means keeping an open mind to San Diego, should the Rams and Chargers partner in Inglewood, or San Antonio.
The Raiders have made three things abundantly clear, though. They will not move to St. Louis, as is sometimes speculated. They will not join the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. And owner Mark Davis will not sell controlling interest of the Raiders.
TEMPORARY LA HOMES
Obviously if the NFL approves one or two teams for Los Angeles relocation, they will need temporary homes until either the Carson or Inglewood stadium is built.
Thus far, only the Coliseum has stepped forward and agreed to work with the NFL as a potential temporary site. The Rose Bowl and StubHub Center have both declined involvement, and there is concern from Dodger and Angel stadiums about scheduling conflicts.
Nevertheless, the NFL remains confident a solution will be found in time to house two teams, if necessary, beginning in 2016. And don’t be surprised if either the Rose Bowl or StubHub Center — or the two baseball stadiums — jump back into the picture as soon as the team or teams moving to L.A. are identified.
REALIGNMENT TALK
If the Chargers and Raiders get the nod to Los Angeles, one of them will have to move out of the AFC West Division. It seems illogical to have teams in the same division sharing a stadium and playing each other twice each season. And while I’ve been told some clubs have made their strong viewpoints known on realignment, it’s still premature at the moment. In fact, even if realignment is necessary, it probably won’t happen in time for the 2016 season.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Per the NFL’s relocation process, a series of town hall meetings will take place in Oakland. San Diego and St. Louis to give local fans a chance to be heard. I’m told the NFL is closing in on identifying and announcing the dates and sites of those meetings.
LA TICKET PRIORITY LIST
The NFL is contemplating setting up a Los Angeles ticket priority list — or wait list — for the 2016 season. The problem, of course, is how to go about doing it while still unsure what team or teams will be entering the market. The league is also unsure whether to ask for deposits. Bottom line, don’t be surprised if news on that front pops fairly soon. It will be fascinating to see how many L.A. fans sign up, especially if they don’t know who the team is and where it’ll play.
STILL HOPE FOR SAN DIEGO, ST. LOUIS
For varying reasons, San Diego and St. Louis might lose their current teams within the next few months. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the door is shut on either as an NFL city.
Even if the Rams decline the Missouri stadium plan local leaders are working toward and they are approved for Los Angeles relocation, it seems likely a team in need of a stadium will immediately turn its attention to St. Louis. I have been told emphatically that will not be the Raiders, but in talking to various sources, the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to be mentioned.
And if the Chargers relocate to Los Angeles, San Diego immediately becomes the most coveted open market out there. In fact, a league source told me not to be surprised if San Diego soon begins courting another team. Depending how the dominoes fall, don’t be surprised if it’s the Raiders.