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Los Angeles Rams set to hold spring training in Oxnard
File: L.A. football fans hold a "Los Angeles Rams" sign during an NFL Game pitting the St. Louis Rams agains the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 23, 2014 in San Diego.
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Los Angeles Rams set to hold spring training in Oxnard
After an agreement from the Oxnard City Council, the Los Angeles Rams are set to use the River Ridge fields for spring training, according to city council documents.
The fields, which Oxnard's Assistant City Manager Scott Whitney called "top-notch," are also hosting the Dallas Cowboys for summer practices in the second summer of a three-year contract.
"The Cowboys still have our fields locked up for two more years with summer camps, but we would love to have a long-term relationship with the Rams," Whitney said. "They're still kind of learning the area, but they have not indicated they are going to use our facilities for any longer than just this first year."
Whitney said that the Rams organization will arrive in late March, and the team itself will arrive in mid-April for training. Spring training for football is normally less formal; players are not in pads, and the practices will not be open to the public, Whitney said. He did mention that the city talked to the team about having one or two public practices, but they are not in the plans yet.
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In summer 2015, the Rams came to Oxnard to scrimmage with the Cowboys, which attracted a large local fan base to the game, Whitney said. He also said roughly 50,000 people are expected to travel from outside the city to watch the Cowboys practice in the summer.
According to a document from the Oxnard City Council's Feb. 23 meeting, the city anticipates generating more than $90,000 from the Rams spring practice coming to town.
"We have essentially a $1 billion organization that's coming into our city and they're bringing hundreds of people with them," Whitney said. "All of that economic activity that's generated from hotels, entertainment, gasoline and food is a boost for our local businesses."
Whitney said the team will be staying at the Residence Inn for the three months they are in the city, which is near the River Ridge fields.
The Rams are leasing the fields for $510 per day from April 18 to June 17, and locker rooms for $680 per day from March 28 to June 24, according to the city council's report. It says the only costs to the city will be for facilities maintenance, water and utilities — up to $1,500 per month.
Check out the layout of the deal discussed at the Oxnard City Council's meeting:
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