Are the Chargers Moving to Los Angeles?

1. The downtown site has not been ruled out. Talks in a positive direction have continued between the city and the chargers.
2. the downtown redevelopment fund cap has been lifted by a “under cover of darkness” state governement deal back in early November. This was a critical step and a deal breaker if it didn’t happen.
3. Fabiani has said that the next step is a ballot measure, probably in 2012 to get the public behind the financing of the stadium. (strangely, a lockout could be just the delay SD needs to get its stadium act together, since the lack of a CBA might hinder a franchise’s valuation and sale)

While those developments are all positive, they are not really that compelling.

The four Spanos kids each have a 15% share leaving the Spanos clan (post sale) controlling 60% of the team. However if Anshutz ends up owning 36%, that makes him the single owner with the highest percentage share, and could potentially give him control of the team (NFL rules say the single highest above 30% gets control). There’s two ways that the sale could go through and the Spanos clan could maintain control of the team. First, they could consolidate ownership of the four 15% shares with one Spanos member. Second, there was a one time exception for the Steelers in a similar situation where two brothers each owning 15% were considered one entity with a 30% controlling share. Would they sell the 36% share without one of these two measures lined up? If this is purely estate planning, why wouldn’t spanos simply sell a 29% share or something similar? It’s bad juju. But San Diego has only itself (and maybe a hojillion city pensions) to blame.

I’ve always driven down there to the games its not that big of a deal. Now i just won’t have to drive much and you guys will drive up.

This is just the typical NFL blackmailing of a community for public funding. We’ve seen this exact pattern repeated so many times that its nauseating. Unfortunately, it works more often than not. I have no doubt that San Diego will cave in and fund whatever stadium/strip mall project the team wants. Frankly, I hope San Diego puts pen to ink on this legal extortion sooner than later. I don’t think Angelinos should have to endure the prospect of having a franchise like the Chargers moving back to L.A.. If the NFL has finally come to its senses and admitted it lost in its attempt to blackmail L.A., then it should take the next logical step and simply allow a two team expansion : the first for L.A. and the second team for someplace in Canada…which seems to want an NFL franchise and all the attendant drama. If L.A. is going to have to watch another NFL team under-perform while wearing the city’s name, it would be better that it be a local product and not some other city’s failed franchise.

there is no reason for anger here.

Fun Fact: I don’t live in the city of San Diego and I think they should spend their money to build the Chargers a stadium, so that I don’t have to drive as far when I attend my one game per year.

More money, a larger fan base (assuming most San Diegans continue supporting the team), and more national media attention can only help the team. Big free agents may be easier to sign in LA. If the salary cap goes, the team is likely better financed in the long run in LA. Of course this is all wild speculation.

That the Chargers have been secretly poisoning opposing teams’ water supply. Thus the current winning streak (and most likely the previous winning streaks as well).

With a huge caveat, the city council has to attain something no SD politician has ever had… vision. Remember, also, the AEG has control of the Sports Arena. I’m thinking that if I’m the city council, I’m planning a retractable roof facility that can keep football, as well as draw Super Bowls, Final Fours, World Cup matches, boxing matches, expanded conventions (like Comic Con) etc. I still think you could pay for a huge chunk of this type of project simply by selling the land where Qualcomm and the Sports Arena is located and using that to pay off the redevelopment bonds. But it has to get started now.

should I be sad, or terrified?

Maybe the NFL doesnt want a team in L.A….Yes it is a big market, BUT, there hasnt been a team there in years, and the nfl still holds that market….Why bother?

Makes me sick to think of them leaving San Diego.

…Would love to see my Bolts up here in LA. Probably won’t happen, but as an LA-based Charger fan, it’s a nice dream.

When would it be?
Would they leave the franchise in SD like the Browns/Ravens did?
Who would own the majority?

 cross ownership in other sports?

Well I guess this year is it for the Chargers in San Diego.

So the news reports, anyway. Maybe we’ll dodge the bullet.

If they do have another owner take over, and do end up moving to LA, is it possible that it could be a complete change in brand/logo/etc? Like the Oiler move to Tennessee?

Al Davis (our lovable rival from the North) sues the NFL and the Chargers to prevent them from moving to LA (Al still claims the LA market after all). Ultimately not successful, but stalls the process long enough (and bitterly enough) to allow SD to get their new-stadium-act in order.

As long as we’re speculating, that is.

for even thinking about getting involved in this whole thing!

Anyway, I want the Los Angeles Rams to move home. San Diego should be able to keep it’s Chargers.

The Rams moving back to L.A. is a topic of discussion on our site also. In my opinion, the Chargers need to stay where they are. If any team comes to L.A. it needs to be the Rams. The fanbase for the Rams is already here and it’s evident with the amount of Southern California fans chiming in from time to time on the website.

IF the Chargers would move to L.A. they should be called the California Chargers, not L.A. It’s obvious that the majority of the Chargers fans will be out of San Diego county.

Do you really agree that the Chargers need a new stadium downtown? Looking at the area where Petco Field is for the Padres, is there any space to tailgate before the game there? To me tailgating, is one of the perks for going to the game. Where the Chargers stadium is now is perfect for tailgating.

Oh, and the comment about libraries, if you have kids, it’s the perfect place to take them to get their homework done. Barnes and Noble never has enough room to sit down because their always so damn busy. Can’t do homework at home with all the distractions.

Oh and by the way, please punch the Raiders in the mouth this weekend. I frickin HATE the Raiders, their fans and their stupid ass Nation.