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No Chargers Here
Those hoping to see Philip Rivers lead the Los Angeles Chargers to victory at the Coliseum, may never get to live that dream. The San Diego Chargers have reportedly reached an agreement with the city of San Diego and Qualcomm Stadium to keep the team there through at least 2008. The Chargers will pay less money in rent, but lose their precious ticket guarantee where the city of San Diego actually bought all unsold tickets to Chargers games (yes, San Diego taxpayers, you helped subsidize Ryan Leaf). Additionally, the Chargers will drop their lawsuit against the city which just happened to be filed in Los Angeles, and hope to get a stadium measure on the ballot by 2006.
However, with the NFL guaranteeing a Los Angeles football team by the 2008 season (if you want to believe them), it appears the Chargers will either miss that window of opportunity or are at least no longer the front-runners to move here. While Red McCoombs is making noises about moving the Minnesota Vikings to LA, and the New Orleans Saints are in a dicey stadium situation, LAist believes that the Indianapolis Colts are now the team most likely to play in Los Angeles. Colts owner Jim Irsay has ties to the music industry, is a member of Riviera Country Club, and isn't thrilled with the stadium situation in Indiana.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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