In a few months, that ultimatum may ring hollow.
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Amid rumors the San Diego Chargers may end up leaving for Los Angeles, the city of San Diego is moving forward with plans for a proposed new $1.1 billion stadium. As you’re in all probability conscious, there isn’t a NFL workforce in L.A. for these followers to go watch with their season tickets, however who cares!
While the owners are unlikely to vote this week, the meetings are a milestone. The owner of the St. Louis Rams is pitching an 80,000-seat venue in Inglewood next to Hollywood Park, but our survey shows that most Angelenos prefer a proposed site in Carson, which would be home to the Chargers and the Raiders. Owners usually think they can get more done, and speak more freely, in a smaller setting.
[RELATED: Check out the latest Charger stadium concepts presented by the city]. The new structure would host games for the Chargers, San Diego State Aztecs, the Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls, high school championships and special events.
But Melvin also said there has been no significant recent contact between the group and the Chargers. “For the past decade, we blamed the City Council, the mayor”.
The city of San Diego has been working to keep things rolling.
Under league bylaws, a move needs approval from at least three-fourths of the owners. The county’s $150 million contribution would come from capital investment bond revenue. He helped speed up an environmental review so a public vote could be scheduled for January. The impacts of the project are mostly known already, he said.
“Discussions are still going on with the Raiders”, Cisneros said.
A financing plan that calls for $2 in private funds for ever dollar of public money.
The dynamic in St. Louis is different. When the team was sold to new owners, a clause was included that said the league could buy back the club and relocate it if the promised arena deal never came to fruition.
Why? The task force had the Chargers paying big annual rents.
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“If the NFL wants a franchise in the nation’s 8th largest city, we have demonstrated we can move quickly”, said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. A spokesman for the mayor’s office said San Diego had no plans to file an antitrust suit against the NFL and the Chargers. They will also argue their longtime history in Los Angeles makes them uniquely qualified to insure a successful NFL return to Los Angeles.
