Since 1994, the NFL has strived to put a team in Los Angeles when it's two teams, the Rams and Raiders moved. Various proposals over the years have been shot down and the City has been left without a football club to call it's own.
But now, things are changing, two NFL Stadium proposals are on the line and the league is looking at giving LA the 2015 NFL Draft. Reports have also emerged of the NFL owning a stadium near Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles.
There is clearly a need both within in the league and the city for a team but it is worth it and will it happen? Los Angeles has often been criticized for it's lack of fans and for it's failure to hang on to the two teams it was given (even though the relocations stemmed from shot down Stadiums and not Poor fan bases).
If football returns to LA, there are two ways to do so. Through Expansion and/or through Relocation.
Expansion seems simple. Put two teams in LA and build a stadium in Chavez Ravine. But there is a problem, there are too many teams already and there are some markets that are struggling to support
their franchises, this is where the second option comes in, Relocation. Right now, The Bills, Jaguars, Raiders, Chargers and Rams are all struggling with either fan support or getting the footwork off the ground for a new stadium. These teams have often been mentioned as primary relocation candidates.
Going through the list, we can eliminate some teams. the Bills are locked into a lease until 2020 and are now Owned by a local guy. the Jaguars are in a similar situation, locked into a lease until 2030 and are more likely to head for another city (London).
The Raiders, Chargers and Rams are now all that's left. The Raiders have spoken to the City of San Antonio about playing in the Alamodome while also speaking about a new stadium in Oakland. Both scenarios are unlikely. Let's go through the three teams.
First up is the Rams. The State of Missouri has refused to spend 700 Million dollars on upgrades to the Edward Jones Dome (or a new stadium for that matter). Kroenke last January, purchased 60 acres of land in Inglewood which has since been the target of a possible NFL Stadium, adding a fourth site to the list of potential venues. But again, there are hurdles. Zoning is one of them. A project to redevelop the area is already being considered and so far, there is no plan to include a stadium. The size Of Kroneke's land is only 60 acres which thanks to modern logic, is too small for an NFL Stadium. Considering the situation in St. Louie, he may settle for it. The Facebook movement that calls for the Rams returning to LA has attracted the attention of many and it's possible that Kroneke's people are watching it.
The Chargers, are also suffering the case of "no-stadium syndrome" but unlike their Midwest companions, the city is trying to build a stadium. Several proposals are on the table and it looks like, they might win. The Chargers have however, expressed interest in working with AEG to play in the downtown LA site, requiring Spanos to sell 30% of the team. This puts us in a dilemma, would the NFL let two LA teams play in two separate stadiums ? Probably not so, unless the Chargers can share with someone, cross them off.
Now comes the nation of silver and black, their fan base is primarily based in Two places, Oakland and LA. Los Angeles still roots for them passionately and it seems that if there isn't any issues with security, the Raiders could move to LA. We come back to however, stadium ownership. Mark Davis, like Kroneke wants to play in his own place and I doubt he would tag along with Kroneke or that he would give AEG 30% of the team. Oakland has to choose between the Raiders and A's and so far, it looks like the A's but are the Raiders going to LA ?
Analyzing the list, the two teams that left in 1994 are the front runners to move to LA. The Rams and Raiders are both perfect candidates to move and since both fanbases hate each other, a rivalry can be established generating billions.
So now, I ask again, will football ever return to LA ? It's possible given the circumstances but there is also the art of leverage. The idea that LA is used by owners as threats to get their cities to draw big bucks to build new stadiums. The Seahawks and Vikings are the two best examples of this with the Falcons as a possible third. The Seahawks got CenturyLink Field, a stadium filled with screaming fans and the craze of the 12th man (whether those fans are bandwagoners or not is a question I can't answer.) The Vikings are getting a shiny new toy that will open up in 2017 and the Falcons are getting a giant cube that is slated to open that same year.
But now, things are changing, two NFL Stadium proposals are on the line and the league is looking at giving LA the 2015 NFL Draft. Reports have also emerged of the NFL owning a stadium near Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles.
There is clearly a need both within in the league and the city for a team but it is worth it and will it happen? Los Angeles has often been criticized for it's lack of fans and for it's failure to hang on to the two teams it was given (even though the relocations stemmed from shot down Stadiums and not Poor fan bases).
If football returns to LA, there are two ways to do so. Through Expansion and/or through Relocation.
Expansion seems simple. Put two teams in LA and build a stadium in Chavez Ravine. But there is a problem, there are too many teams already and there are some markets that are struggling to support
their franchises, this is where the second option comes in, Relocation. Right now, The Bills, Jaguars, Raiders, Chargers and Rams are all struggling with either fan support or getting the footwork off the ground for a new stadium. These teams have often been mentioned as primary relocation candidates.
Going through the list, we can eliminate some teams. the Bills are locked into a lease until 2020 and are now Owned by a local guy. the Jaguars are in a similar situation, locked into a lease until 2030 and are more likely to head for another city (London).
The Raiders, Chargers and Rams are now all that's left. The Raiders have spoken to the City of San Antonio about playing in the Alamodome while also speaking about a new stadium in Oakland. Both scenarios are unlikely. Let's go through the three teams.
First up is the Rams. The State of Missouri has refused to spend 700 Million dollars on upgrades to the Edward Jones Dome (or a new stadium for that matter). Kroenke last January, purchased 60 acres of land in Inglewood which has since been the target of a possible NFL Stadium, adding a fourth site to the list of potential venues. But again, there are hurdles. Zoning is one of them. A project to redevelop the area is already being considered and so far, there is no plan to include a stadium. The size Of Kroneke's land is only 60 acres which thanks to modern logic, is too small for an NFL Stadium. Considering the situation in St. Louie, he may settle for it. The Facebook movement that calls for the Rams returning to LA has attracted the attention of many and it's possible that Kroneke's people are watching it.
The Chargers, are also suffering the case of "no-stadium syndrome" but unlike their Midwest companions, the city is trying to build a stadium. Several proposals are on the table and it looks like, they might win. The Chargers have however, expressed interest in working with AEG to play in the downtown LA site, requiring Spanos to sell 30% of the team. This puts us in a dilemma, would the NFL let two LA teams play in two separate stadiums ? Probably not so, unless the Chargers can share with someone, cross them off.
Now comes the nation of silver and black, their fan base is primarily based in Two places, Oakland and LA. Los Angeles still roots for them passionately and it seems that if there isn't any issues with security, the Raiders could move to LA. We come back to however, stadium ownership. Mark Davis, like Kroneke wants to play in his own place and I doubt he would tag along with Kroneke or that he would give AEG 30% of the team. Oakland has to choose between the Raiders and A's and so far, it looks like the A's but are the Raiders going to LA ?
Analyzing the list, the two teams that left in 1994 are the front runners to move to LA. The Rams and Raiders are both perfect candidates to move and since both fanbases hate each other, a rivalry can be established generating billions.
So now, I ask again, will football ever return to LA ? It's possible given the circumstances but there is also the art of leverage. The idea that LA is used by owners as threats to get their cities to draw big bucks to build new stadiums. The Seahawks and Vikings are the two best examples of this with the Falcons as a possible third. The Seahawks got CenturyLink Field, a stadium filled with screaming fans and the craze of the 12th man (whether those fans are bandwagoners or not is a question I can't answer.) The Vikings are getting a shiny new toy that will open up in 2017 and the Falcons are getting a giant cube that is slated to open that same year.
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