With a vote on whether the NFL will return to Los Angeles on its way (at this point it most certainly is), the league is apparently exploring the idea of a proposed shared stadium between the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Charges in Inglewood, California, reports Sam Farmer and Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times.
Multiple league officials and owners not involved with the Inglewood project, or the competing proposal in Carson, say there is momentum to pair the two franchises in what one owner describes as a “transformational” project backed by the Rams.
The proposal would throw a wrench in the Chargers and Raiders plans of building a stadium in Carson. According to Times sources, Chargers owner Dean Spanos doesn’t want to be seen as turning on his partnership with Raiders owner Mark Davis. It’s believed Spanos prefers Inglewood.
One influential owner whose preference has not been apparent in public or private, touted Inglewood over Carson, saying “the deals aren’t even close.”
The arrangement will try to find resolution during a special meeting Tuesday in Houston, where owners hope to answer who will play in L.A. and where.
Dean Spanos just arrived. I asked him if he's still firmly committed to Mark Davis/Carson. Says he'll abide by whatever NFL owners decide
— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) January 11, 2016
The Chargers, Raiders, and Rams all want to relocate L.A. The Times reports owners seem to favour the Rams and Chargers, and don’t want the Raiders in L.A. possibly because of the image the team had in the past while in Los Angeles. There is some thought that possible if the Raiders don’t move to L.A., that perhaps St. Louis or San Antonio could be an option for them or possibly even joining the 49ers in their new stadium in Santa Clara. If the Rams and Chargers arrangement comes into fruition, it would also slow momentum with the Oakland Athletics quest for a new stadium as the Major League Baseball franchise hoped the Raiders leaving would be the first domino to fall to get the ball rolling on a new stadium.
So if you’re hoping for the Rams, Radiers or Chargers to move to L.A., nothing has yet been decided, but clarity should be coming.
