NFL’s Raiders, Rams, and Chargers All Submit Applications for LA Relocation

The NFL has been absent from the country’s second-largest market since the Rams and Raiders left in 1994.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke has been linked to a $1.86 billion stadium project in Inglewood, Calif., for more than a year.

The St. Louis Rams filed for relocation with the National Football League on Monday.

It said the applications would be reviewed by league staff and three league committees meeting in NY on Wednesday and Thursday. At the league meeting all 32 team owners will vote on a proposal, which will need 24 votes to pass.

The Rams argue that they have the strongest L.A. fan base of the three teams seeking to relocate.

There’s always the chance the league could put off the decision until 2017, and if that happens, Kroenke’s plan to start construction on his stadium would make sense because the NFL would probably have a hard time turning down a stadium that’s already one year into its construction. “Each team submitted the appropriate documentation in support of its application as required by the NFL Policy and Procedures for Proposed Franchise Relocations”.

All three teams play in aging stadiums they have been looking to replace for years.

“When the Rams chose to make their move there, this was a decision to protect our business”, Spanos said.

Editor’s note: other sources say that there are two competing possible stadium locations, Inglewood and Carson.

But they have refused to help pay to build the stadium even as San Diego has offered $350 million – contingent on a public vote – to help keep the Chargers and St. Louis has offered $400 million to keep the Rams.

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, who just completed his fourth season with the Rams, has downplayed worries about the franchise relocating to Los Angeles, saying he’d be working under the assumption the Rams would be in St. Louis. For the Chargers, Rams or Raiders, that fee is a reported $550 million, per NFL.com. That’s why York was placed on the NFL’s significant Stadium Committee, which monitors the facility-building efforts around the country-including St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland.

The Chargers want to partner with the AFC West rival Raiders on a stadium in Carson.

“The Inglewood stadium can host an additional 30,000 fans on a standing room only basis, which allows for much greater shared ticketing revenue for regular season, postseason and Super Bowl”, the Rams’ application states.

The Chargers filed because they believe they can not get a stadium deal in San Diego.

Finally, the Rams conclude St. Louis can no longer support three professional sports franchises while both Oakland and San Diego have shown substantial economic growth.

Because of the money involved, the cities that stand to lose their teams aren’t going down without a fight.