After a meeting that lasted from 8am to 9pm Tuesday (January 12), NFL owners agreed with a 30-2 vote to allow the St. Louis Rams to move to Los Angeles starting in the 2016 season. The move also includes the option for the San Diego Chargers to join the Rams in Inglewood, CA and if they opt out, the Oakland Raiders also have the option to move to L.A. Though the Rams will begin play in their new city next season, their new stadium has a projected opening for 2019 and will be the league’s biggest stadium by square feet and carry a price tag of $3 Billion. Thankfully, none of the public’s money will be used in the construction.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall:
We realized this was our opportunity not just NFL stadiums and NFL complexes but sports complexes around the world.
Current Rams owner Stan Kroenke had bittersweet emotions when discussing the franchises departure from St. Louis, MO.
We understand the emotions involved with our fans. It’s not easy to do these things. It’s purposefully made hard. L.A. is a difficult place to permit a stadium and build something that we as a league can all be proud of. I think we worked hard and we got a little bit lucky and we had a lot of good people help us.
Raiders owner Mark Davis was on stage when the announcement was made, and gave his thoughts:
This is not a win for the Raiders today, but at the same time I’m really happy for Stan Kroenke. We’ll be working really hard to find us a home. … Don’t feel bad. We’ll get it right.
Chargers owner Dean Spanos also chimed in:
You know, I’m going to try to take a day off. This has really been excruciating for everyone. I’m going to look at all our options. … It’s very difficult to say right now I’m going to do this or I’m going to do that.
The Rams franchise played in Los Angeles from from 1946 to 1994, where Hall of Fame Eric Dickerson had a stellar career. Dickerson also weighed in on the move.
I can’t put it into words, man. When I see them kick off, the first time they play, that’s when I’ll believe it’s really happened.
Though the door remains open for both the Chargers and the Raiders to share the city of L.A. with the Rams, which is the U.S.’s second biggest market, NFL fans will forever remember the “greatest show on turf” with legends such as Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner, whom brought a Super Bowl Championship to the midwestern city.
Sorry Nelly.
