Los Angeles

The Chargers Are Staying in Los Angeles for the Long Run, Despite Rumors

Recently, reporter Don Banks suggested the NFL is considering moving the Chargers back to San Diego. But the team is here to stay for the long run.

"We are committed to and confident of the long-term success of two teams in Los Angeles," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

Think about this logically for a moment — the NFL is one of if the most powerful entity in all of American sports. When the league makes a decision like moving a franchise to another bigger market, the due diligence necessary for that process has been completed.

Granted, the NFL did not want to vacate that market in San Diego, however due to stadium issues, Chargers owner Dean Spanos decided it was time to relocate the team after a 15 year battle with the city. The Rams were awarded the first opportunity to relocate from St. Louis to Los Angeles. The NFL finance committee — made up of a group of influential owners – rejected that notion last January on Spanos' attempt at a stadium plan with the Oakland Raiders in Carson. He later moved the Chargers to Los Angeles in March of 2016.

After settling in on a temporary home for the Chargers at the Stub Hub Center — which can host over 27,000 fans — Spanos has expressed excitement and anticipation for his franchise’s long-term future in Los Angeles.

The Chargers have sold out their season tickets to fans, and have added a wait list for future season ticket packages. Even though the attendance was over 25,000 fans for the Miami Dolphins game, the organization remains optimistic that the process to win over Los Angeles will come in due time, along with moving into the new Inglewood stadium with the Rams in 2020.

Banks, on the other hand, is convinced that the team will move back to their San Diego home sooner than later.

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"I can tell you this, there are people in the league — including the commissioner — they did not want to see San Diego forsaken. They would rather there be a team in San Diego. If there's anything viable that they could find to put the league back in to San Diego, I think they will be in that camp strongly," Banks said.

It makes zero financial sense for the league and the Chargers to move back. The team has invested millions into their current facility in Costa Mesa as well as into upgrading Stub Hub Center. If they did move back, the Bolts would still have no new stadium to call their own in San Diego. With plans of finding a permanent site to for practices and office space in the future, the team will remain in the City of Angels for a long time.

Plans remain for marketing the new Inglewood stadium for the price of two teams and 16 games a year to be played, along with the extensive entertainment complex surrounding the venue. Remember the naming rights will also be negotiated for the new stadium. The NFL's vision of a two-team plan in the second largest media market remains intact.

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