The San Diego Chargers intend to file for relocation to Los Angeles when the league opens the application window in January, Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani told The Mighty 1090 AM radio show on Friday.
Chargers plan to file for relocation to Los Angeles in January
Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani said that the team intends to file for relocation in January because both the Rams and Raiders likely will, too.
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On Friday, he said that he expects both the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams to file for relocation to L.A., as well, forcing the Chargers to do so out of self-preservation.
“At this point yes, because there’s no sign that the other team or teams are not going to file,” Fabiani told The Mighty 1090 AM radio show. “Everyone assumes all three teams will file, and in that case we can’t afford to lose our market in Los Angeles and Orange County.
“As you know, 25 percent of our season-ticket business comes from those markets. So we have to be able to protect those markets. That’s why as a last resort we went out and created the certain option we now have in Los Angeles. And if everything is moving ahead, we’re not going to be standing on the sidelines and watching everything go by. We’ve got to stay in the game to protect the future of the franchise.”
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney believed the same when he spoke to the Los Angeles Times in October and said he thinks the Chargers, Raiders and Rams will all file for relocation to L.A.
Rooney chairs the NFL’s Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities and both he and Roger Goodell said that they believe it will come to an vote among owners in January. A bid for relocation must receive approval from 24-of-32 owners.
While the Chargers are planning to file for relocation and have a joint proposal with the Raiders for a $1.7 billion stadium in Carson, they also aren’t giving up on San Diego. A citizens’ initiative launched just this week hopes to raise money for a joint-use NFL stadium and convention center expansion in downtown San Diego, and the Chargers are willing to consider the plan if the NFL delays a relocation to L.A. for another year.
Anther possibility in San Diego is a $1.1 billion proposed stadium in Mission Valley, the same area where Qualcomm Stadium is located. The Chargers have said they prefer a stadium downtown over one in Mission Valley.
Fabiani is a political strategist who has previously worked as special counsel to President Bill Clinton and has served as special counsel to Chargers owner Dean Spanos since 2002. With the Chargers, he has specifically worked to secure a better stadium situation for the team, although that may not end up being in San Diego.
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