Uncertainty looms in the future of the Chargers and Raiders football organizations as the two teams negotiate over stadium plans that could either allow them to remain in their current home cities or join in sharing one stadium in Los Angeles.
Plans for a new $1.7 billion stadium in Carson came out just two months ago, and have already been approved with a unanimous Carson City Council yes vote Tuesday night. San Diego’s local ABC News affiliate, 10 News, reported: “Going through the initiative process allows the project to avoid lengthy and expensive environmental reviews.”
The San Diego Chargers have been battling their home city over plans for a new stadium. Tumultuous and drawn-out negotiations over a new stadium have also been fast-tracked in recent months under threat that the team may leave.
Chargers fans came out in droves–cheering “Save Our Bolts!”–at a March community forum that welcomed public input into the location and funding for San Diego’s stadium plans. Following the forum, the Chargers Stadium Task Force, convened solely for the purpose of moving forward stadium plans, proposed a location and suggested that no new taxes be levied on area residents.
Finalized recommendations from the nine-member Chargers Stadium Task Force following meetings with the Chargers and NFL representatives are expected on or by May 20, and will be presented to Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
The St. Louis Rams are also rumored to be considering a move to the Los Angeles area. Owner Stan Kroenke has partnered in plans to build an 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood, just 10 miles from downtown L.A.
The Associated Press reports that L.A. fans have seen many plans come and go since both Rams and Raiders left the region in the 1990s.
The current Raiders stadium has run up against sewage and electrical problems, according to the AP. Each of the three teams has history in L.A.
The Chargers’ history there was very brief, with the team only spending its original year in L.A. in 1960 before moving to its long-time home of San Diego. The Rams and Raiders each started in cities other than L.A., moved into the city, then left again.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana
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