IRVING, Texas – By the middle of January, the hope is the National Football League will know which teams and how many will be calling Los Angeles home in 2016.
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The owners’ gathering, which began with committee meetings Tuesday, will be dominated by discussion of the empty Los Angeles market and the three teams vying to occupy it: the Raiders, St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.
Goodell was tasked by his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, with finding a replacement for Los Angeles shortly after the Raiders and Rams (then based in Anaheim) both played their last regular-season games there on Christmas Eve, 1994. “This needs to get done”, said New York Giants owner and L.A. committee member John Mara. The owners of the Chargers, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams have all expressed interest in moving to Los Angeles.
While the Padres are showing off new team jerseys, the Chargers remain focused on a new stadium in Carson.
The three cities that stand to lose teams must submit their latest plans to keep their franchises by December 28. Whichever side eventually loses the fight – and depending on which scenario you believe, there could be one, two or zero teams in the Los Angeles by this time next year – won’t go back home and just fold their hands.
Today’s NFL owners meeting took place one day after the city of San Diego released its response to concerns league executives had with a term sheet for a Mission Valley stadium project proposed by the city and county two months ago.
“It’ll certainly be an opportunity for the membership to learn more about the process and about the options for the teams in their existing markets and also their options in LA”, Hunt said.
“I am in favor of making sure this is done the right way”, Goodell said.
The potential deal includes a 50-50 split of the cost to build the $1.86-billion stadium and a 50-50 split of revenue from the venue.
“The 24 vote rule is key”, said Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay. A vote later than that likely puts off any move to Los Angeles until 2017.
Owners acknowledged St. Louis was far ahead of Oakland and San Diego but also said the deal wasn’t done.
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As for the land on which the proposed stadium sits, Kroenke will control all ownership, in addition to all development around the stadium. The Rams are probably thinking they can get to 24 votes if they add the Raiders or Chargers. “I don’t think we’re extremely close right now”.
