Sources: Rams and Chargers relocation agreement could be reached Tuesday

[Eleazar]

NFL consensus builds for a Rams-Chargers stadium project in Inglewood



On the brink of a vote that could return the NFL to Los Angeles, a consensus is building within the league for the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers to share a stadium in Inglewood.

Multiple league officials and owners not involved with the Inglewood project, or the competing proposal in Carson, say there is momentum to pair the two franchises in what one owner describes as a "transformational" project backed by the Rams.

The Chargers and Oakland Raiders want to build a stadium in Carson, and to this point, Chargers owner Dean Spanos has stood by his partnership with Raiders owner Mark Davis.

The league insiders, who spoke on the condition they not be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, say Spanos doesn't want to be seen as turning his back on a partner. This makes the path to what is emerging as the preferred pairing more difficult. But the insiders believe the matter can be resolved during the special meeting that starts Tuesday in Houston, where owners hope to find an answer to the two-decade L.A. vacancy.

One influential owner whose preference has not been apparent in public or private, touted Inglewood over Carson, saying "the deals aren't even close."

In the past week, there has been a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity among owners and NFL staff in an attempt to clear the way for a decision to be made at these meetings.

It is extremely rare for the NFL to devote a full day to a single topic, much less two days in the middle of the playoffs. It underscores how determined the NFL owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell are to reach an accord that would bring professional football back to the country's second-largest market.

It is widely thought that the L.A decision will help define the legacy of Goodell, and shape the financial future for a league that generates $10 billion in annual revenue.

All three teams want to relocate to L.A. for the 2016 season, meaning time is of the essence to move their franchises and begin selling tickets.

Although the general meetings start Tuesday, the Los Angeles committee is convening Monday.

There's a sense that most owners want the Chargers and Rams in Inglewood, but aren't sure of the best way to make it happen. The idea of the Raiders returning to L.A. is not popular among many owners.

One owner said that the NFL has to realize that "we just can't solve all three stadium problems in one fell swoop."

It would mean striking a bargain that keeps the Raiders out of L.A. but doesn't leave them empty handed. Such a maneuver could mean that the Raiders return to Oakland in the short term, but can explore relocating to other cities, among them San Diego, St. Louis or joining the San Francisco 49ers in their new stadium in Santa Clara.

There is some sentiment among owners that the L.A. matter should be determined by secret ballot to avoid the awkwardness of league partners voting against partners. A secret vote -- now used only for the selection of a commissioner or awarding a Super Bowl to a city -- would need the approval of 17 of the league's 32 owners, a simple majority.

The idea of putting the Chargers and Rams in Inglewood has been floated for months and was formally proposed last week by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a one-page letter to Goodell.

There's a belief among some owners and league executives that Spanos would be willing to make a deal with Rams owner Stan Kroenke to share Inglewood if it were a 50-50 partnership that wouldn't put the Chargers at an economic disadvantage.

When news of Jones' letter became public late Saturday, Mark Fabiani, the Chargers' point man on stadium issues, reached out to The Times and asked that a December letter Spanos sent the L.A. committee be referenced. The two-paragraph letter rejected Kroenke's offer to partner with a second team in his planned Inglewood stadium.

"Nothing in Stan's letter gives me any reason to reconsider my partnership with Mark Davis and our chosen stadium site," Spanos wrote.

The one thing everyone can agree upon is that this is a very fluid process and plans can shift very quickly.

Three-quarters of owners must approve any franchise relocation. It's believed both projects have the nine votes to block the other, although that could be shifting in favor of the Rams after last week's meetings of the finance, stadium and L.A. committees at league headquarters in New York.

It's unclear if the six-owner L.A. committee will recommend a stadium plan or whether such an endorsement would be unanimous. Two members of that committee, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, have made it clear in public that they favor the Carson plan.

Though the cost of the Inglewood stadium proposed by Kroenke has been publicly estimated at $1.86 billion, the league insiders say the cost likely would significantly exceed $2 billion. That would make it the most expensive venue in U.S. sports history. At 3 million square feet -- including identical locker rooms, office space and owner's suites for two teams -- it would also be the NFL's largest stadium.

The project would be the centerpiece of a 298-acre entertainment, retail and housing development, something one owner called an "NFL Disney World."

According to the relocation application the Rams submitted to the league last week, the stadium would be ready for the 2019 season.

Disney Chairman and CEO Robert Iger, who would oversee the Carson proposal if it is approved and have the opportunity for a minority ownership stake in the Chargers or Raiders, is expected to make a presentation to owners in Houston.

On Saturday, Goodell sent a 48-page report to all franchises saying that the three home markets -- Oakland, San Diego and St. Louis -- failed to produce viable stadium plans.

In the report, which did not make any recommendations, Goodell said market research supports the conclusion that L.A. is capable of being a two-team market.

Though the L.A. Memorial Coliseum has expressed a willingness to temporarily host one NFL team starting next season, it's unclear where a second team would play. USC's lease to operate the Coliseum would need to be amended to allow two NFL teams.

Last summer, the Rose Bowl Bowl Operating Co. declined to respond to the NFL's request for a proposal to temporarily host a team.

League officials, who have also looked at Angel Stadium, Dodger Stadium and the 27,000-seat StubHub Center, say they aren't concerned about finding temporary homes for two L.A. teams.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. reiterated his city's support for the privately-financed stadium Monday.

"As we have believed all along, the Inglewood project is the best option for the NFL, from an economic and geographic perspective," Butts wrote in an email. "The companion development will make the stadium viable for year round uses. The HKS designed project will be the largest, most beautiful stadium in the world. We are hopeful that the NFL owners will agree."

Carson Mayor Albert Robles didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la...112-story.html

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

If it's Rams/Chargers no realignment. Makes sense unless you're a fan.

doesn't make sense if your Mark Davis and your city only offered 90m to get you to stay.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Never been to Oakland but is it as dumpy as the perception?

How have they been able to survive up to this point if there is not a lot of money or big business there ?

Or do they draw from the entire northern Cali and San Francisco area?

Yes and no. There's a ton of rich people. There's also a ton of middle class. There's also a ton of poor....its a pretty crazy mix

Raiders fans come mainly from outside of Oakland, proper I would guess....there's a ton of suburban areas there....with money...and there's also a ton of working class middle income areas all within a short distance.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Yes and no. There's a ton of rich people. There's also a ton of middle class. There's also a ton of poor....its a pretty crazy mix

Raiders fans come mainly from outside of Oakland, proper I would guess....there's a ton of suburban areas there....with money...and there's also a ton of working class middle income areas all within a short distance.

The city sucks so much at balancing there books Crime is going up and the mayor tried to offer a crap deal to the raiders to stay after letting off a bunch of cops from the police force

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/o...oliseum-011016

[Jerm]

Wonder if the Raiders will talk up San Antonio again now....

[MahiMike]

This is the most logical solution.

[the Talking Can]

It's DONE. 30 yes, 2 no.

— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) January 13, 2016

[Al Bundy]

Rams to LA, with Chargers getting first crack through Jan 16, 2017, then Raiders have preference, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2016

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Rams to LA, with Chargers getting first crack through Jan 16, 2017, then Raiders have preference, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2016

This is about as good as I could have hoped for. Maybe San Diego will work something out in San Diego. Don't care what the Raiders do.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

uhhhh whats done?

[The Franchise]

Damnt....get the Raiders out of here.

[ChiefsCountry]

Breaking. pic.twitter.com/PMwGg6bUlr

— Matt Sebek (@MattSebek) January 13, 2016

[KChiefs1]

[MMXcalibur]

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

#Rams #Raiders #Chargers everyone going back in.. Final vote coming. Looks like Rams and Chargers.

— Fred Roggin (@FredNBCLA) January 13, 2016

final vote coming up looks like ram's and chargers.

That will keep the AFC West intact.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Is that big dirt pit along the 405 where the stadium is being built?