Finally, an NFL team in Los Angeles? (2 Viewers)

[timschochet]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nfl/story/_/id/11346347/magic-johnson-believes-los-angeles-land-nfl-team-next-two-years

Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson says Los Angeles is ready for the return of an NFL team.

And he thinks it will happen soon, according to Yahoo! Sports.

"I think for the first time, I truly believe we're going to get a team. Finally," Johnson said. "Everybody is on board. The city is on board. The business community is on board. The NFL is on board. Finally we have momentum. In the next couple years, at least in the next 24 months, I think one team will be coming. I don't know what team that will be, but I believe in the next two years we'll have a team."

Farmers Field, a proposed $1.5 billion downtown football stadium connected to an expanded Los Angeles Convention Center, is ready for construction. A competing stadium project proposed by real estate magnate Ed Roski in the City of Industry has been ready to push dirt since 2009, with little traction.

Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis and two high-ranking Raiders front-office personnel met with several city officials in July about the potential of moving his team from Oakland to San Antonio, the San Antonio Express-News reported last month.

Johnson, part of a group that bought the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 for $2 billion, said he would welcome a Raiders return to Los Angeles.

"It would be great to have the Raiders back in L.A., I would love for that to happen," Johnson said. "But that's going to be up to Mark and the Raiders and the NFL. But I would love to have the Raiders back in L.A. where they belong.

"We just want a team, we want a team in the worst way."

Johnson hung out Tuesday in the Raiders' VIP tent for the team's joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, alongside former L.A. Raiders including Jay Schroeder, franchise sacks leader Greg Townsend and Jerry Robinson. Johnson was a regular at Raiders games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and has also been to games in Oakland.

"Al Davis came to all our championship games" with the Lakers, Johnson told ESPNLA 710 AM radio. "I was a Raider season-ticket holder. I'm a Raider diehard.

"Al used to be in his all-white [outfit]. That was so cool. He watched every Finals we had. What was so cool back in the day, we all hung out together -- Marcus Allen, Howie Long -- we hung out with them; they hung out with us. We came to see their games; they came to see our games. I'm just hoping, in the next two years or so, we can finally get a team back to Los Angeles."

Pressed on the Raiders returning, Johnson laughed.

"I would love that," he said. "San Antonio? Come on. The Spurs?

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

 

[cstu]

Pressed on the Raiders returning, Johnson laughed.

"I would love that," he said. "San Antonio? Come on. The Spurs?

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Seems Magic has forgotten the Alamo.

 

[Raider Nation]

BREAKING NEWS?

 

[timschochet]

Pressed on the Raiders returning, Johnson laughed.

"I would love that," he said. "San Antonio? Come on. The Spurs?

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Seems Magic has forgotten the Alamo.

Let San Antonio have the Raiders. I would prefer a different franchise. Or a new one (although that means somebody else has to get a new one too.)

 

[cstu]

Pressed on the Raiders returning, Johnson laughed.

"I would love that," he said. "San Antonio? Come on. The Spurs?

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Seems Magic has forgotten the Alamo.

Let San Antonio have the Raiders. I would prefer a different franchise. Or a new one (although that means somebody else has to get a new one too.)

It's no good for me as a Chargers fan but I wouldn't mind going to games to root against them.

 

[hagmania]

If they take a newer team, at least it might get rebranded. Dislike a lot of the newer NFL brands.

 

[17seconds]

BREAKING NEWS?

this time it's different

 

[Wingnut]

<yawn>

Even if they get one it won't last. So Cal won't care or stay interested for very long.

 

[Politician Spock]

I don't see this going down any different than the last time. Foreigners just don't like our version of football.

 

[roadkill1292]

End the NFL anti-trust exemption.

 

[mr roboto]

<yawn>

Even if they get one it won't last. So Cal won't care or stay interested for very long.

I don't get this. Please explain.

 

[Apple Jack]

Finally?

 

[Bucky86]

Not the raiders, please. Raider fans can't have nice things.

 

[McGarnicle]

Pressed on the Raiders returning, Johnson laughed.

"I would love that," he said. "San Antonio? Come on. The Spurs?

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Seems Magic has forgotten the Alamo.

Let San Antonio have the Raiders. I would prefer a different franchise. Or a new one (although that means somebody else has to get a new one too.)

Worst thing they could do is expand the league any further. The current alignment of divisions and schedule are perfect, and watering down the talent pool any further would lead to an inferior product.The Jags would make a good target.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

When I lived there I found almost no one really cared they didn't have a team.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

 

[whitem0nkey]

I always thought that Chicago can support a 2nd NFL team.

it would have to be in the suburbs, maybe Naperville or Schaumburg. when the bears are home they would be away and visa versa. the tickets would be a little cheaper than the bears. only 2 cities can support 2 baseball teams, maybe the same can be said for a football team. Chicagoland area has 10 million people, LA has just 3.7 million.

 

[17seconds]

I always thought that Chicago can support a 2nd NFL team.

it would have to be in the suburbs, maybe Naperville or Schaumburg. when the bears are home they would be away and visa versa. the tickets would be a little cheaper than the bears. only 2 cities can support 2 baseball teams, maybe the same can be said for a football team. Chicagoland area has 10 million people, LA has just 3.7 million.

wat

An LA team would support LA, Orange, San Bernadino, Ventura counties. Probably some Riverside too. That's 16 million people

 

[TobiasFunke]

I always thought that Chicago can support a 2nd NFL team.

it would have to be in the suburbs, maybe Naperville or Schaumburg. when the bears are home they would be away and visa versa. the tickets would be a little cheaper than the bears. only 2 cities can support 2 baseball teams, maybe the same can be said for a football team. Chicagoland area has 10 million people, LA has just 3.7 million.

wat

An LA team would support LA, Orange, San Bernadino, Ventura counties. Probably some Riverside too. That's 16 million people

Using "metropolitan statistical areas" LA clocks in at 13 million to Chicago's 9.5 million. link

 

[timschochet]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

It doesn't matter if San Antonio is "crazy nuts" about football. They have the Dillon Panthers to root for.

LA is prime time. Any Texas city by comparison is small potatoes.

 

[timschochet]

My whole family were Rams fans for years (not me.) They would love to see the Rams return, now that the hated Georgia is gone.

If the Rams DO return, maybe they could go back to the classic blue and white and leave that ugly bright gold in St. Louis.

 

[Politician Spock]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

It doesn't matter if San Antonio is "crazy nuts" about football. They have the Dillon Panthers to root for.

LA is prime time. Any Texas city by comparison is small potatoes.

Yeah, Jerry Jone is an idiot. Dallas?!? WTF is he thinking?!?!

 

[EYLive]

Not the raiders, please. Raider fans can't have nice things.

I can't shake the feeling that the Raiders bring out the criminal element of a city a little. Rowdy fans, gang members wearing the silver and black, it's just kind of unsavory. Maybe it's just me, but I wonder if other Angelenos notice it too or feel the same way.

I'd prefer the Chargers if L.A. was to get a team.

 

[Tom Servo]

<yawn>

Even if they get one it won't last. So Cal won't care or stay interested for very long.

I don't get this. Please explain.

Both the Rams and the Ray-duhs played there and left.

Besides, if LA gets a team, how will the NFL and the Ginger Hammer force choke existing cities to pony up for new stadia?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

It doesn't matter if San Antonio is "crazy nuts" about football. They have the Dillon Panthers to root for.

LA is prime time. Any Texas city by comparison is small potatoes.

Passion plus population equals terrific market. See New Orleans, Tampa, Cleveland, Green Bay.

Apathy plus population = might as well be Kenosha or Paducah.

L.A. needs to build a stadium that will attract people, beautiful sight lines of the hills, by the water, something like that which will make the games events in themselves. But that will likely cost too much and large swaths of land aren't available in those areas. Of course there's also downtown, and that might happen, because L.A. loves real estate development most of all.

 

[Tom Servo]

Passion plus population equals terrific market. See New Orleans, Tampa, Cleveland, Green Bay.

Apathy plus population = might as well be Kenosha or Paducah.

L.A. needs to build a stadium that will attract people, beautiful sight lines, by the water, something like that. Of course there's also downtown, and that might happen, because L.A. loves real estate development most of all.

Absolutely. From what I've always heard, LA people could really care about getting another team.

 

[Politician Spock]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

It doesn't matter if San Antonio is "crazy nuts" about football. They have the Dillon Panthers to root for.

LA is prime time. Any Texas city by comparison is small potatoes.

Passion plus population equals terrific market. See New Orleans, Tampa, Cleveland, Green Bay.

Apathy plus population = might as well be Kenosha or Paducah.

L.A. needs to build a stadium that will attract people, beautiful sight lines of the hills, by the water, something like that which will make the games events in themselves. But that will likely cost too much and large swaths of land aren't available in those areas. Of course there's also downtown, and that might happen, because L.A. loves real estate development most of all.

The problem LA suffers with is there really is no place to put an NFL stadium where the huge crowd that an NFL game needs can get in and out of quickly. Large cities like NY, Chicago, and SF use their city's people movers (trains, subways) to get people to and from the game. Smaller NFL cities can handle the crowd being 100% car traffic. LA's traffic sucks, and deters enough of the population from going that filling an NFL stadium to capacity is difficult despite the huge population surrounding it. Sports like baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer can function with smaller crowds in LA, but an NFL team can't.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Does LA even realize they don't have a team anymore?

 

[JaxBill]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

Oh, Really?

This should be good.

 

[Dondante]

I don't know if it will ever happen again in L.A., but it will never happen in San Antonio. San Antonio is the biggest small town I've ever been to. The corporate presence and the discretionary income are weak at best. Not to mention the chokehold Jerruh has on the city. I happened to be living in SA when the Saints were displaced due to Katrina. There were people calling into the local sports shows by the dozens with no interest in either shifting loyalty away from the Cowboys or supporting a local NFL franchise.



Now, Austin? Austin might be a different story. And if there was a way to split the difference between the two cities and build a light-rail between them as well, I think that would work. But from what I hear neither JJ nor McNair will let it happen.



LA, in my opinion, will get every shot at this and I'm not sure the past failures will factor in much.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

Oh, Really?

This should be good.

Been there, felt that as a Saints fan, Benson once looked at moving the Saints to Jax. Not insulting the area, just aware that owners have whims. - I was commenting based on the comment further up by McGarnicle. If the Jags are candidates to go to London (regularly mentioned) they're candidates to go to L.A. If the stadium's been refurbished, if they worked out a longer term deal, if Khan is dedicated to the area, great, my bad, take them off the list. It's just that owners can't seem to get that 'small market to No. 2 market in one swift move' idea out their head most likely

 

[General Malaise]

LA is a nice little college football town and that's about it. The NFL is doing just fine without LA, thank you.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I don't know if it will ever happen again in L.A., but it will never happen in San Antonio. San Antonio is the biggest small town I've ever been to. The corporate presence and the discretionary income are weak at best. Not to mention the chokehold Jerruh has on the city. I happened to be living in SA when the Saints were displaced due to Katrina. There were people calling into the local sports shows by the dozens with no interest in either shifting loyalty away from the Cowboys or supporting a local NFL franchise.



Now, Austin? Austin might be a different story. And if there was a way to split the difference between the two cities and build a light-rail between them as well, I think that would work. But from what I hear neither JJ nor McNair will let it happen.



LA, in my opinion, will get every shot at this and I'm not sure the past failures will factor in much.

It's up to the owner. If McCombs could have moved the Vikes there he would have. Benson nearly got lynched here in NO, he barely escaped with his life at Tiger Stadium.

I used to live in Austin, I think Central TX would embrace a team for sure. It is Cowboys country but you know what the Cowboys suck.

 

[Dondante]

I don't know if it will ever happen again in L.A., but it will never happen in San Antonio. San Antonio is the biggest small town I've ever been to. The corporate presence and the discretionary income are weak at best. Not to mention the chokehold Jerruh has on the city. I happened to be living in SA when the Saints were displaced due to Katrina. There were people calling into the local sports shows by the dozens with no interest in either shifting loyalty away from the Cowboys or supporting a local NFL franchise.



Now, Austin? Austin might be a different story. And if there was a way to split the difference between the two cities and build a light-rail between them as well, I think that would work. But from what I hear neither JJ nor McNair will let it happen.



LA, in my opinion, will get every shot at this and I'm not sure the past failures will factor in much.

It's up to the owner. If McCombs could have moved the Vikes there he would have. Benson nearly got lynched here in NO, he barely escaped with his life at Tiger Stadium.

I used to live in Austin, I think Central TX would embrace a team for sure. It is Cowboys country but you know what the Cowboys suck.

It's not up to the owner - it's up to the owners.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I don't know if it will ever happen again in L.A., but it will never happen in San Antonio. San Antonio is the biggest small town I've ever been to. The corporate presence and the discretionary income are weak at best. Not to mention the chokehold Jerruh has on the city. I happened to be living in SA when the Saints were displaced due to Katrina. There were people calling into the local sports shows by the dozens with no interest in either shifting loyalty away from the Cowboys or supporting a local NFL franchise.



Now, Austin? Austin might be a different story. And if there was a way to split the difference between the two cities and build a light-rail between them as well, I think that would work. But from what I hear neither JJ nor McNair will let it happen.



LA, in my opinion, will get every shot at this and I'm not sure the past failures will factor in much.

It's up to the owner. If McCombs could have moved the Vikes there he would have. Benson nearly got lynched here in NO, he barely escaped with his life at Tiger Stadium.

I used to live in Austin, I think Central TX would embrace a team for sure. It is Cowboys country but you know what the Cowboys suck.

It's not up to the owner - it's up to the owners.

Didn't Al Davis himself disprove that?

 

[17seconds]

I always thought that Chicago can support a 2nd NFL team.

it would have to be in the suburbs, maybe Naperville or Schaumburg. when the bears are home they would be away and visa versa. the tickets would be a little cheaper than the bears. only 2 cities can support 2 baseball teams, maybe the same can be said for a football team. Chicagoland area has 10 million people, LA has just 3.7 million.

wat

An LA team would support LA, Orange, San Bernadino, Ventura counties. Probably some Riverside too. That's 16 million people

Using "metropolitan statistical areas" LA clocks in at 13 million to Chicago's 9.5 million. link

+ illegals = 16million

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

Does LA even realize they don't have a team anymore?

 

[Bucky86]

Not the raiders, please. Raider fans can't have nice things.

I can't shake the feeling that the Raiders bring out the criminal element of a city a little. Rowdy fans, gang members wearing the silver and black, it's just kind of unsavory. Maybe it's just me, but I wonder if other Angelenos notice it too or feel the same way.

I'd prefer the Chargers if L.A. was to get a team.

It's absolutely true. When I had Chargers season tix, I wouldn't go to the Raiders game and neither would many of the people around me. Joke all you want about Chargers fans not showing up to their own stadium, but it just wasn't worth it. Everyone their had their own stories about when the Raiders came to town.

 

[Wingnut]

Passion plus population equals terrific market. See New Orleans, Tampa, Cleveland, Green Bay.

Lots of blackouts in Tampa.

 

[Dondante]

I don't know if it will ever happen again in L.A., but it will never happen in San Antonio. San Antonio is the biggest small town I've ever been to. The corporate presence and the discretionary income are weak at best. Not to mention the chokehold Jerruh has on the city. I happened to be living in SA when the Saints were displaced due to Katrina. There were people calling into the local sports shows by the dozens with no interest in either shifting loyalty away from the Cowboys or supporting a local NFL franchise.



Now, Austin? Austin might be a different story. And if there was a way to split the difference between the two cities and build a light-rail between them as well, I think that would work. But from what I hear neither JJ nor McNair will let it happen.



LA, in my opinion, will get every shot at this and I'm not sure the past failures will factor in much.

It's up to the owner. If McCombs could have moved the Vikes there he would have. Benson nearly got lynched here in NO, he barely escaped with his life at Tiger Stadium.

I used to live in Austin, I think Central TX would embrace a team for sure. It is Cowboys country but you know what the Cowboys suck.

It's not up to the owner - it's up to the owners.

Didn't Al Davis himself disprove that?

I guess I don't know what you're referring to. I know it takes something like a 2/3 owner vote to approve one of these moves, though. Conventional thinking is that JJ and McNair could drum up enough support (in this case of their vote) prevent it from happening. I believe that.

 

[Dondante]

Passion plus population equals terrific market. See New Orleans, Tampa, Cleveland, Green Bay.

Lots of blackouts in Tampa.

Better get the Ferguson PD on the case.

 

[whitem0nkey]

I always thought that Chicago can support a 2nd NFL team.

it would have to be in the suburbs, maybe Naperville or Schaumburg. when the bears are home they would be away and visa versa. the tickets would be a little cheaper than the bears. only 2 cities can support 2 baseball teams, maybe the same can be said for a football team. Chicagoland area has 10 million people, LA has just 3.7 million.

wat

An LA team would support LA, Orange, San Bernadino, Ventura counties. Probably some Riverside too. That's 16 million people

Using "metropolitan statistical areas" LA clocks in at 13 million to Chicago's 9.5 million. link

+ illegals = 16million

keep in mind that winter in Chicago vs winter in LA means more entertainment options for AL vs Chicago.

Chicago has 3 sports talk stations on local radio there is a large pool of sport fans here.

 

[timschochet]

Los Angeles also has 3 sports talk stations- what does that prove?

 

[whitem0nkey]

Los Angeles also has 3 sports talk stations- what does that prove?

that both Chicago and LA has enough sports fans to keep them in business.

I just want another team

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I don't know if it will ever happen again in L.A., but it will never happen in San Antonio. San Antonio is the biggest small town I've ever been to. The corporate presence and the discretionary income are weak at best. Not to mention the chokehold Jerruh has on the city. I happened to be living in SA when the Saints were displaced due to Katrina. There were people calling into the local sports shows by the dozens with no interest in either shifting loyalty away from the Cowboys or supporting a local NFL franchise.



Now, Austin? Austin might be a different story. And if there was a way to split the difference between the two cities and build a light-rail between them as well, I think that would work. But from what I hear neither JJ nor McNair will let it happen.



LA, in my opinion, will get every shot at this and I'm not sure the past failures will factor in much.

It's up to the owner. If McCombs could have moved the Vikes there he would have. Benson nearly got lynched here in NO, he barely escaped with his life at Tiger Stadium.

I used to live in Austin, I think Central TX would embrace a team for sure. It is Cowboys country but you know what the Cowboys suck.

It's not up to the owner - it's up to the owners.

Didn't Al Davis himself disprove that?

I guess I don't know what you're referring to. I know it takes something like a 2/3 owner vote to approve one of these moves, though. Conventional thinking is that JJ and McNair could drum up enough support (in this case of their vote) prevent it from happening. I believe that.

Al Davis moved the Raiders to L.A. before, the NFL and the owners said point blank "no" a thousand times over, Davis sued the NFL and won.

 

[GDogg]

<yawn>

Even if they get one it won't last. So Cal won't care or stay interested for very long.

Yeah, obviously, the L.A. teams seem to really struggle with attendance among the many pro and college teams already there...

 

[EYLive]

Los Angeles also has 3 sports talk stations- what does that prove?

ESPN, FOX and ?

 

[GDogg]

I always thought that Chicago can support a 2nd NFL team.

it would have to be in the suburbs, maybe Naperville or Schaumburg. when the bears are home they would be away and visa versa. the tickets would be a little cheaper than the bears. only 2 cities can support 2 baseball teams, maybe the same can be said for a football team. Chicagoland area has 10 million people, LA has just 3.7 million.

wat

An LA team would support LA, Orange, San Bernadino, Ventura counties. Probably some Riverside too. That's 16 million people

Using "metropolitan statistical areas" LA clocks in at 13 million to Chicago's 9.5 million. link

L.A. County alone has 9.963 million people. And, that's not even taking into account Orange, San Berdoo or Ventura counties.

 

[GDogg]

<yawn>

Even if they get one it won't last. So Cal won't care or stay interested for very long.

I don't get this. Please explain.

Both the Rams and the Ray-duhs played there and left.

Besides, if LA gets a team, how will the NFL and the Ginger Hammer force choke existing cities to pony up for new stadia?

They left over stadium deals (money).

 

[GDogg]

"Mark knows there's only one place he can go -- that's L.A. San Antonio? Come on now. Come on."

Someone should remind Ervin that L.A. has lost two teams and currently has none. Texas is crazy nuts about football, Central Texas would be wild for this team.

Don't expand. In terms of relocating, the Jags do make sense. But the big problem is the regional alignment. The tv contracts mean that the networks won't allow one network to suddenly gain a huge jump in markets (and another network to suddenly have a huge drop in market share) by allowing a team to switch conferences. The Rams of course would make the most sense in that regard, they are already in the NFCW and their STL contract is also essentially done. The Raiders of course are also in the AFCW.

It has to be the Raiders or Rams.

It doesn't matter if San Antonio is "crazy nuts" about football. They have the Dillon Panthers to root for.

LA is prime time. Any Texas city by comparison is small potatoes.

Passion plus population equals terrific market. See New Orleans, Tampa, Cleveland, Green Bay.

Apathy plus population = might as well be Kenosha or Paducah.

L.A. needs to build a stadium that will attract people, beautiful sight lines of the hills, by the water, something like that which will make the games events in themselves. But that will likely cost too much and large swaths of land aren't available in those areas. Of course there's also downtown, and that might happen, because L.A. loves real estate development most of all.

The Dodger ownership group apparently has a proposal ready to go for a new stadium on the same land overlooking the L.A. skyline as Dodger Stadium. The NFL has apparently always been intrigued by that location over all others.