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| Rendering of the Rams Facility in Inglewood (Source: HKS) |
Stan Kroenke had announced, a year ago one week before the vote, his intention to build an 80,000 seat stadium in Inglewood with the Raiders and Chargers announcing their intention to build a 65,000 seat Stadium in Carson to compete with the Rams. The Chargers hired Carmen Policy, former NFL Lawyer involved with the 49ers Stadium woes and with the Browns in 1996, and Disney CEO Bob Iger, in an attempt to sway owners.
Policy argued that Carson was a "California Solution to a California Problem" and that the Rams had an adequate stadium plan in St. Louis. Despite this, The Feeling amongst many owners was that the Inglewood facility was superior and that the facility would house a campus for NFL Operations on the West Coast hosting Combines, Pro Bowls, Super Bowls, Drafts, as well as other events that will attract massive amounts of revenue for the league.
Sam Farmer and Nathan Ferreno of the Los Angeles Times Reported last Saturday that Jerry Jones' Proposal for a shared stadium between the Rams and Chargers was gaining traction amongst owners and despite the Carson recommendation, it was likely that the league would lean this way.
The Rams first moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland after owner Dan Reeves envisioned a pro-football powerhouse in the City of Angels. The Rams would play at the Coliseum until 1979, when the teams popularity began to dwindle because of other sports and more contending teams such as the Lakers, who were on the verge of their best decade in history. In 1980, the Team Moved to Anaheim, and two years later, the Raiders would move to Los Angeles and would quickly become the most popular team, and even saw itself hoist a Super Bowl in 1983.
Because of the Economic Crisis, and Declining Attendance, the Rams would move to St. Louis, where they would win a Super Bowl and receive the Nickname "The Greatest Show on Turf" Many Los Angeles Rams fans felt abandoned and stopped rooting for the team as a result. In 2010, however, many of these former fans, began communicating on Facebook, forming a movement known as Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams in response to the rumors of the team being put up for sale five years ago.
In three years, the movement would grow exponentially and the fans would even hold large rallies and attend Charger, Cardinal, and San Francisco Games, Occupying Whole Sections and Holding Large Heads of Stan Kroenke.
In 2013, St. Louis rejected a proposal to renovate the Edward Jones Dome into a top-tier stadium, which had been incorporated into their lease that was signed more than 20 years ago, resulting in an arbitration hearing that saw a ruling in favor of the Rams. When the Rams announced their intentions to move, St. Louis set up an NFL Task Committee led by Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz. The Two proposed a 65,000 seat open-air stadium facing the Mississippi River across from the Edward Jones Dome. This plan, however, saw obstacles in the Missouri Senate and accusations of Eminent Domain slowed the Project down. Kroenke refused to accept any deal and reaffirmed his stance on moving the team to Los Angeles, at that point, it was over for the St. Louis Rams.
The Rams will play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until the new stadium is completed in 2019. The Chargers will have until 2017, which would have the offer shift to the Raiders if Dean Spanos Refuses. Spanos said on Tuesday he was "Taking a Day Off" before shifting his attention towards deciding whether or not he will move his team. But for now, The Rams are set to play in Los Angeles beginning in the 2016 season and will open at home on September 11, 2016.
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