It feels like the Chargers are playing their final games ever in San Diego this month as it was reported yesterday that the team will be relocating to Los Angeles after this season. In fact, according to the report, barring a miracle change in the last minute, it’s already a done deal.
@IamJoeSports
During the NFL owners meetings earlier this year in January, the league approved the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles, and the team was given a deadline of Jan. 15, 2017 to file the necessary paperwork.
Chargers chairman Dean Spanos has to alert the league that he intends to exercise that option by next month’s deadline, which feels like a certainty as the team and the city can’t agree on a new stadium in San Diego.
The franchise needed two-thirds of the vote to go their way for their 1.8 billion plan that proposed raising hotel taxes from 12.5 percent to 16.5 percent to secure $1.15 billion in bonds to help pay for the stadium project. During the last vote in November, they only received 43% of the votes in their favor.
“Dean has said that he wants everyone to be able to focus on the remainder of the Chargers’ season, and so [he] won’t be making any final decisions until after the season is over,” said Mark Fabiani, the point person on the stadium situation for the Chargers. “That hasn’t changed.”
The Chargers have a tenant-lease agreement with Rams owner Stan Kroenke that lowers the team’s risk because they do not have to borrow money for construction of the $2.6 billion project.
The Rams would have to spend millions to build their own practice facility in Los Angeles amongst other things but not having to worry about securing funds for a brand new stadium is a major selling point to move.
The Rams and Chargers would jointly share revenue such as naming rights, suites, sponsors and advertising. The teams would be on their own to sell season tickets and personal seat licenses.
Chargers fans continue to talk about that it’s wrong for the team to leave but the city itself continues to vote against a new stadium which they desperately need. Sorry fans in San Diego but it sounds like if you are going to continue to root for the team, you’re gonna have to take the drive to L.A.
