LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti attends the Longines Los Angeles Masters at Los Angeles Convention Center on September 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Buchan/Getty Images for Masters Grand Slam Indoor)

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti said he’s down with the San Diego Chargers moving to L.A., but said he’d rather see the team stay in San Diego than join the Rams.

“We’d welcome any team to come here, but I love the idea of a great rivalry to the south,” Garcetti said on ESPN Radio’s Capital Games podcast yesterday. “We wish them luck.”

NFL owners approved the Rams bid to move to Los Angeles to play in Inglewood, Calif., this week, with the Chargers or Oakland Raiders still possibly joining them in the future.

Garcetti dished out some advice to other mayors looking to add NFL franchises, saying “Don’t be so desperate for a sports franchise and don’t put your city in debt for decades.”

The mayor clearly has a plan. Garcetti said he expects the Inglewood stadium construction project to create 4,000 to 5,000 short-term jobs, and 3,000 permanent jobs once it’s complete. Additionally, the increase in the Inglewood taxes from the project will help improve infrastructure in the area. He hopes the stadium will be a key element to Los Angeles’ 2024 Summer Olympics bid, and also help the city land other major sporting events such as Super Bowls.

“We talked about bringing the Super Bowl here every four or five years,” Garcetti said. “We’re looking at the Final Four. Also, this wasn’t part of our Olympic bid. Now we can add this to the bid. It’s huge. It says to the world that you can do a sustainable Olympics and be cost sensitive.”

Garcetti wants what’s best for L.A., which is what any mayor should pursue for his or her city. Keeping the Chargers in San Diego could create a entertaining regional rivalry, but it’s also possible that two teams could battle over L.A. pro football fandom. How many cities get to enjoy that kind of fun? It seems like a win-win for Garcetti and Los Angeles.

[ESPN]

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