L.A. Times – Consensus building for Rams-Chargers move

Reports indicate that on the first round of voting, a proposal which would send the Rams and a team “to be determined” to Stan Kroenke’s Inglewood stadium received 20 votes, four short of the required number.

The Chargers and Raiders filed for relocation with intent to partner on a stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson.

Whatever the outcome of this week’s vote, “We’ll abide by it”, Spanos said. He reiterated that he will abide by whatever decisions his fellow owners make.

Sam Farmer and Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times reported Monday that “a consensus is building” to pair the Chargers and Rams at the Inglewood site and that the idea of the Raiders returning to L.A.is “not popular among many owners”.

That option would leave the Raiders out of Los Angeles, meaning such a proposal is likely to include significant concessions to Oakland, and perhaps even relocation to a new stadium or new city. And if the league wants to come up with the simplest solution, it could offer Los Angeles as a California solution for two California teams rather than moving a team halfway across the country.

The most popular sport in America has been a notable absentee from the nation’s second biggest media market since 1994, when the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders played their last games in the city.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer countered by establishing a task force that recommended building a new facility next to Qualcomm Stadium.

Allies of the Carson project view the proposal as a delaying tactic by Kroenke and his supporters and part of a strategy in which National Football League officials and key owners put pressure on Spanos to agree to join the Rams in Inglewood.

Chris Melvin, an attorney and lead negotiator for the city and county of San Diego, said Sunday that the Chargers created their own uncertainty. “But the Chargers stonewalled, rebuffed attempts to negotiate a term sheet, and refused to act”.

However a report issued to all 32 NFL teams on Saturday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell increased the probability that one or more teams will be heading to the City of Angels in time for next season. “Despite all this, San Diego has proven that it’s a region that supports its major league teams”. There is a widespread belief within the league that Kroenke could generate nine votes to block the moves of the Chargers and Raiders while Spanos and Raiders owner Mark Davis could secure the nine votes necessary to keep the Rams from relocating.

Dean saying, “I’ve said everything that I have to say”, is a bit of a slap in the face of San Diego and San Diegans that have supported the Chargers for decades, but what else is new?