NFL: Los Angeles Close to Having a Franchise?
The city of Los Angeles in California is the second biggest media market in the U.S., according to Janson. However, since 1995, they do not have a team for the NFL. The last two franchises of Los Angeles were the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders.
The Rams were in the Los Angeles area from 1946 to 1995 until they relocated to St. Louis, Miss., while the now Oakland Raiders played in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994 when they went back to Oakland. However, current Rams owner Stan Kroenke reportedly plans to build an NFL stadium in Inglewood, Calif., to start the process of returning the franchise to its roots, per Los Angeles Times.
One of the hurdles for Kroenke is the NFL rule wherein an owner cannot have an additional major sports team in another NFL city, according to Bleacher Report. The 68-year-old billionaire currently owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL's Colorado Avalanche.
The Los Angeles Times reported in a different post that NFL owners have approved Kroenke's plan of transferring his ownership of the Nuggets and Avalanche to his wife Ann Walton and his son Josh Kroenke. San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos reportedly talked to Stan Kroenke back in 2013 regarding a new arena in California near Carson City.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report gave his take on the LA-NFL saga, saying on Twitter, "NFL's race to Los Angeles is fascinating. Would it be a safe assumption at this point to think: Rams, Chargers to LA & Raiders to St.Louis?"
Is the relocation of the Chargers and Rams to Los Angeles possible? According to Los Angeles Times, Pittsburgh Steelers owner and Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities Art Rooney II expect a vote in January on the team or teams relocating to Los Angeles.
Rooney believes that the Raiders will join the Chargers and Rams in filing for relocation. As for St. Louis fans, the city is trying to keep the Rams as National Car Rental secured the naming rights to the proposed riverfront stadium in the city, agreeing to pay $158 million for over 20 years.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the buzz. He said, as quoted by NFL Network's Albert Breer on Twitter, "There's interest in being back in the entertainment capital of the world. But we have to do it right."
The "do it right" means that the league should try to avoid the Los Angeles relocation bids becoming a popularity contest, per Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. He told The Los Angeles Times, "As owners, personal friendships come into play. But in business, mistakes are often made if they're led by emotion. You have to be very thoughtful."
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