With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
NFL to LA: Now the really interesting part begins
Listen
• 0:49
A rendering of he new stadium and complex to be built near the Forum in Inglewood was released by the Hollywood Park Land Company, Kroenke Group and Stockbridge Capital Group in January.
(
Courtesy Hollywood Park Land Company
)
For more than two decades, a parade of different NFL teams have threatened to move to Los Angeles, but no team actually filed the paperwork to make it official -- until Monday.
The Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams all requested to move, but the NFL has made clear only two teams – at most – can come to L.A., and there can only be one stadium. It will either be a complex in Inglewood (backed by Ram's owner Stan Kroenke) or a joint project in Carson backed by the AFC West rival Chargers and Raiders.
"The applications will be reviewed this week by league staff and three league committees that will meet in New York on Wednesday and Thursday -- the Los Angeles Opportunities, Stadium, and Finance committees," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a written statement.
Then, next Tuesday and Wednesday all 32 NFL team owners meet in Houston to try to hash out a resolution.
Support for LAist comes from
Any move requires approval from two-thirds of owners, a level of consensus no team appears to have and will be difficult to attain, according to Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist at Smith College.
"The owners, generally speaking, have 32 different approaches to most policy questions," said Zimbalist. "Most of them have locked horns on policy issues in the NFL in the past.”
Usually the league likes order, but no one seems to know what will happen now, including Chargers owner Dean Spanos, who was interviewed on his team’s website.
"As I sit here, this is a very fluid situation," said Spanos. "You read all this stuff in the paper, and everybody’s tallying votes, but no one knows anything for sure.”
What we do know is the NFL doesn’t have much time. If teams are going to move to Inglewood or Carson next season, a decision has to happen quickly so that tickets can be sold and stadium plans can be made.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist