The NFL’s return to Los Angeles is close to becoming official. NFL owners gathered on Tuesday to vote on the various scenarios to relocate anywhere between one and three NFL franchises to Los Angeles, and the St. Louis Rams will be making the move from St. Louis for sure. The San Diego Chargers could be joining them too, as the Oakland Raiders have reportedly pulled out of the relocation process and will keep calling Oakland its home (maybe).
The Rams were approved for returning to Los Angeles with a plan to move into a stadium in Inglewood being approved. This was commonly thought to be the best option on the board for the NFL’s Los Angeles relocation options, as it is expected to provide plenty of amenities with it. The Chargers have reportedly been given an option to join the Rams and share the stadium as early as this season or in the next few years.
As first reported here, Chargers have option to join Rams in Inglewood starting as early as this year and for few years after
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 13, 2016
If Chargers don't join Rams immediately it's perfect scenario for Kroenke. Year(s) head start getting best sponsors, partners, fans in LA
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 13, 2016
The Rams’ move to Los Angeles was not automatic though. The first round of voting for the Rams fell just four votes shy. The Rams/Inglewood project received 20 of the 24 necessary votes to be approved. This sparked a meeting between owners and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and apparently that helped solve whatever issues remained. A second vote apparently swayed enough votes to approve the Rams’ relocation with the option to add either the Chargers or the Raiders.
It was then the Raiders opted to back out of the Los Angeles discussions, leaving the option solely to the Chargers. But does this mean the Raiders will stay put in Oakland? A fallback plan could end up seeing the Raiders move to San Diego, filling the pending vacancy to be opened by the Chargers.
NFL Source tells @CW6SanDiego-NFL would waive any territorial fee if Raiders elect to relocate to San Diego-using extra money in SD.
— Lee Hacksaw Hamilton (@hacksaw1090) January 13, 2016
Final decisions are expected to be made soon enough, and we will finally have this all hashed out shortly. But for now the Rams are heading to Los Angeles, the Chargers have the option to join them and the Raiders may be staying in Oakland. Got all that?
So compromise is: #Rams in Inglewood. #Chargers can join or stay home for $100 mil in funding. #Raiders stay home, they get $100 mil funding
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 13, 2016
