The Chargers recently agreed to a deal with Wasserman Media Group to start marketing to Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Being the only NFL team in So. Cal this doesn’t seem that odd to start tapping into these two vacant lucrative markets, but the people of San Diego should start being worried. There is a real possibility that the Chargers could be on the move to LA very soon. Though Charger ownership has stated that this contract has nothing to do with the possibility of a move, this can just be a precursor of the things to come.
The Chargers have been looking to build a new stadium in San Diego for seven years now. Every time they find a site for the stadium, they just can’t get the funding from the county. Meanwhile in LA County they just approved of a $150 million bond for infrastructure improvements on a stadium site in the city of Industry. Factor that in with the fact that billionaire developer Ed Roski’s Majestic Real Estate Co. has a proposal ready to build an $800 million stadium at that site if a NFL team would agree to come there. Roski just happens to be good friends with Chargers owners, the Spanos family. The Chargers are also free to move out of San Diego County during the month of February if they pay the city $56 million to buy out the bond on their current stadium. In a time of a slumping economy this might be too good of a deal to pass up.
I personally don’t like when teams leave a city for another city, but this makes perfect business sense for all parties involved except San Diego. The NFL wouldn’t have to realign the divisions again, like they would if another team came in to LA (like let’s say Jacksonville), because the Chargers are already in the west. The NFL would also benefit financially by having a team in the second largest market. The Chargers would also benefit financially by playing in this market and have the brand new stadium that they have been asking for. Los Angeles would finally have a NFL team (a solid wining team at that) and a new stadium that would likely be a prime destination for hosting many upcoming Super Bowls. This would all bring in high revenue and excitement for the city. Everybody’s gaining here besides San Diego, which will be down to one professional team. But there’s still time for San Diego to get smart and agree to build the Chargers a new home and Charger ownership has stated that they will do everything they can to stay in San Diego County. But the longer that takes the closer The Los Angeles Chargers become to being a reality. So, San Diego step up and if you want to keep your team!
Source: DailyNews.com, NFL.com, AbcLocal.go.com
