San Dee-Ay-Go, make that Los An-Gel-Es, Super Chargers?

[TigerVols]

They say you can't go home again. But they weren't talking about the Los Angeles-San Diego Chargers, returning to where they were born: Downtown Los Angeles.

TJ has some of the details today; I live downtown and I have it on good authority the construction of the new stadium is being fast-tracked and that it's all but a done deal (look for the NCAA to announce a Final Four @ the new stadium for 2017. Look for a NBA Finals to be there before Kobe retires.)

Here's TJ's story

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1207-simers-20101207,0,7255799.column

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I could live with that.

I'd rather see the Jaguars move to LA since I hate messing with tradition and the Jags have no tradition, or fans, but San Diego needs a new stadium and won't get it any other way.

 

[Wendell Gee]

Makes sense for the Jags to move there. Wouldn't mind the Raiders moving back to LA either.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I cringe when I hear rumors of Minnesota going there and I don't think Goodell would ever let that happen.

I think the only teams that could realistically wind up there are the Jaguars, Chargers and the Raiders.

 

[MileHigh]

Great spot for a stadium. Better idea with the retractable roof to attract conventions and the Final Four. West Coast is long overdue for a Final Four.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Phoenix looked into a Final Four and balked at the NCAA's extortionate demands.

 

[Starman]

I cringe when I hear rumors of Minnesota going there and I don't think Goodell would ever let that happen.

I think the only teams that could realistically wind up there are the Jaguars, Chargers and the Raiders.

Goodell can't stop it, thanks to Al Davis.

Goodell's predecessors Tagliabue and Rozelle did nothing to prevent the Baltimore Colts, Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns, all certifiably historic NFL franchises which played before massive crowds most of their existences, from skipping town at the whims of their owners. (You can throw the Cardinals and Oilers in there if you want.)

It's all about billionaire owners extorting multi-billions out of taxpayers.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Star, that's mostly but not entirely correct. Goodell couldn't stop a franchise legally from moving into LA. But he could get the owners to vote to admit an expansion franchise there to prevent a move. Difficult verging on impossible, I admit, but it's within his scope.

 

[LongTimeListener]

This sounds like a great deal for everyone except the tens of millions of people in the L.A. area who don't want a team because A) the tickets are going to be far too expensive for them to ever go; and B) instead of being free to get the three best games of the week on TV regardless of geography, they're now going to be stuck with their suck team and often only one other game because of the doubleheader rules.

I have never heard any regular actual L.A. resident say they want a team.

 

[playthrough]

Phoenix looked into a Final Four and balked at the NCAA's extortionate demands.

What were their demands?

 

[micropolitan guy]

Better the Chargers than the Bills, that's for sure.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

This sounds like a great deal for everyone except the tens of millions of people in the L.A. area who don't want a team because A) the tickets are going to be far too expensive for them to ever go; and B) instead of being free to get the three best games of the week on TV regardless of geography, they're now going to be stuck with their suck team and often only one other game because of the doubleheader rules.

I have never heard any regular actual L.A. resident say they want a team.

Assuming their team sells out. The Rams and Raiders didn't, so games were regularly blacked out.

Agreed, I don't get the impression the demand is really there.

 

[BNWriter]

I may be behind here, but I thought SD has a fairly new stadium they were using currently. They need a new one? What's more, won't there be an uproar in SD if the Chargers move to La-La Land?

 

[LongTimeListener]

I may be behind here, but I thought SD has a fairly new stadium they were using currently. They need a new one? What's more, won't there be an uproar in SD if the Chargers move to La-La Land?

You're probably thinking of the Padres' new stadium. The Chargers are playing in the same one from the '60s.

As for uproar, that's what the NFL is trying to do, cause an uproar so they can get the ballot issue moving and extort the taxpayers for a new stadium. The column was well-done, but it also hinges on a date of February 2012; clearly it allows San Diegans plenty of time to process the threat and bend over for a new deal.

 

[TigerVols]

A few notes from the neighborhood:

1. I attended a Chargers game at Qualcomm a few weeks back and the game day experience is the worst I've ever been through. An hour and a half to get in through the 1 parking entrance, terrible stadium, no amenities and 2 hours to get out of the parking lot.

2. My wife has to work with several government agencies in SD County, so we go there a lot. There is zero interest -- and zero money -- in public financing for the Spanos.

3. The Chargers have a large and growing fan base in LA and especially Orange County; I'm in the Inland Empire a lot and I see as many Charger stickers as I do Raider ones.

4. The whole LA-gets-to-see-all-the-good-games is not accurate; usually, we're stuck with at least 1 Charger or Raider game.

5. You can count me in as a Los Angeles resident who wants an NFL team. And will support it.

 

[Starman]

I may be behind here, but I thought SD has a fairly new stadium they were using currently. They need a new one? What's more, won't there be an uproar in SD if the Chargers move to La-La Land?

You're probably thinking of the Padres' new stadium. The Chargers are playing in the same one from the '60s.

As for uproar, that's what the NFL is trying to do, cause an uproar so they can get the ballot issue moving and extort the taxpayers for a new stadium. The column was well-done, but it also hinges on a date of February 2012; clearly it allows San Diegans plenty of time to process the threat and bend over for a new deal.

Unless and until there is a miraculous and momentous economic recovery, the idea of devoting multi-hundreds of millions of dollars of tax money (and it's all tax money, no matter how it's subterfuged and camouflaged as hotel taxes, entertainment taxes, rental-car taxes, bond guarantees etc etc etc) on sports stadiums for the exclusive benefit of billionaire owners (and millionaire players, while we're at it) should bring nothing less than armed mobs storming the streets.

 

[DanOregon]

I'm surprised no one has pulled the trigger on LA. You could move your team and play in the Coliseum or Rose Bowl as the new place is being built.
Kind of surprised the City of Industry thing didn't happen given all the money they threw at neighboring cities to get the okay.

 

[poindexter]

I may be behind here, but I thought SD has a fairly new stadium they were using currently. They need a new one? What's more, won't there be an uproar in SD if the Chargers move to La-La Land?

You're probably thinking of the Padres' new stadium. The Chargers are playing in the same one from the '60s.

As for uproar, that's what the NFL is trying to do, cause an uproar so they can get the ballot issue moving and extort the taxpayers for a new stadium. The column was well-done, but it also hinges on a date of February 2012; clearly it allows San Diegans plenty of time to process the threat and bend over for a new deal.

Unless and until there is a miraculous and momentous economic recovery, the idea of devoting multi-hundreds of millions of dollars of tax money (and it's all tax money, no matter how it's subterfuged and camouflaged as hotel taxes, entertainment taxes, rental-car taxes, bond guarantees etc etc etc) on sports stadiums for the exclusive benefit of billionaire owners (and millionaire players, while we're at it) should bring nothing less than armed mobs storming the streets.

We spent thanksgiving weekend in SD. I paid I think $3.75 a night tax for something - San Diego Visitors Bureau or the Zoo or something... very irritating.

 

[Starman]

When did Art Modell try to extort anything from the taxpayers. He wanted what the Indians and Cavs got.

Yeah. A multi-hundred-million-dollar stadium (for all effective purposes) given to him for free.

When the city didn't give it to him, he said '**** you.' Can't say I blame him, either.

Yeah, whenever a billionaire doesn't get a multi-hundred-million dollar gift from taxpayers, the natural reaction is to say "**** you" and leave.

We spent thanksgiving weekend in SD. I paid I think $3.75 a night tax for something - San Diego Visitors Bureau or the Zoo or something... very irritating.

Without going into deep specifics, I would be totally un-shocked to find out that some of that $3.75 might have gone for some mechanism of financing the construction of Petco Field.

 

[Starman]

Ah, OK. Never ever ever ever even once asked for a new stadium. OK, got it.