The presence of Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger as part of the Chargers/Raiders stadium proposal in Carson, Calif., was "widely applauded by NFL owners at their meeting this week, including some owners who previously held reservations about that proposal," according to sources cited by Jason La Canfora of CBSSPORTS.com. Sources said that Commissioner Roger Goodell "was very aware" of the Chargers' and Raiders' pursuit of Iger, and also spoke with him "before the deal ... was finalized over the weekend." Many league insiders, as well as some owners, "believe the fact that Iger would come aboard this late in the game is an indication he must have a strong sense that there is adequate support for the project." Sources said that the Carson project "already had more owners in its corner prior to Iger's arrival," including several on the NFL’s Committee on L.A. Opportunities, like Jerry Richardson (Panthers), Art Rooney II (Steelers) and John Mara (Giants). The owners who "most strongly align" with Rams Owner Stan Kroenke's planned stadium in Inglewood currently include Jerry Jones (Cowboys), Robert Kraft (Patriots), Dan Snyder (Redskins), Jeffrey Lurie (Eagles), Woody Johnson (Jets), Zygi Wilf (Vikings) and Steve Bisciotti (Ravens). The Bengals' Mike Brown "often abstains from such votes and thus could be considered part of the nine 'non-Carson' votes required to prevent anything passing, while the Bills, Falcons and 49ers are among the franchises viewed as potentially swinging either way" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/15). NBC's Mike Florio said team owners "like the idea that Iger could come in and provide that business expertise that the teams would need to thrive in Los Angeles, especially if Iger ends up exercising his right to become a minority owner" of the Raiders ("Football Night In America," NBC, 11/15),
CHANGING THE DYNAMIC: In San Diego, Dan McSwain wrote Kroenke until last week "had the upperhand" in the race to L.A., but Iger "has changed the equation." Chargers Chair Dean Spanos and Raiders Owner Mark Davis "were already sentimental favorites of many NFL owners." The league’s "worst-case scenario was letting the teams go into debt to build a stadium and then fail to build a market." Now they "can rest easier" because Iger is "one of the world’s best entertainment marketers." Meanwhile, letting Kroenke into L.A. "may entail giving up" $550M in St. Louis and "stranding the Raiders and Chargers in cities without the political will to offer public cash" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/15). NBC's Florio noted there is speculation that Kroenke could "move without approval of his business partners, or possibly even sell the team.” The MMQB’s Peter King said, “I see this as a conflict between the old-guard owners, who want to do right by a very old-guard type of family, the Spanos family. ... There’s old-guard owners like Jerry Richardson, who would like to see this happen, and then there’s sort of the Wall Street ownership group. They are the guys who want to make the most money out of this franchise move to Los Angeles, guys like Jerry Jones of the Cowboys." King noted people around the league "do not want two teams in Los Angeles." King: "The majority of owners in this league only want one” (“FNIA,” NBC, 11/15).
DEBARTOLO NOT CHANGING HIS COLORS: In Oakland, Jerry McDonald notes Davis yesterday debunked a report by CBS' La Canfora that he "has been in discussions" with former 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. "about being a minority owner." Davis said, "It's not true." DeBartolo in a statement added, "The report about my interest in buying a portion of the Oakland Raiders is absolutely ridiculous and absurd. It is 100 percent not true. I have no intention in returning to the NFL and am focused on enjoying my family, my relationships with my beloved players and my business in Tampa. I love the NFL and continue to watch from afar as a fan" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 11/16). La Canfora in the original report cited sources as saying that DeBartolo's interest in returning to the NFL "is not limited to Oakland, a pairing with Davis could be another boon for the club's hopes of moving to Carson." Davis, who is "working to close a deal or deals with other investors, has been actively seeking additional minority partners to come on board, especially those with acumen in projects of this nature, to inject additional capital into his franchise" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/15). THE MMQB's Peter King writes it would seem "rather ... odd for Eddie DeBartolo ... to come back in an ownership position" with the Raiders. His sister, Denise DeBartolo York, serves as 49ers co-Chair, and his nephew, Jed York, is 49ers CEO (MMQB.SI.com, 11/16).
PRICE POINT: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Daniel Kaplan cites sources as saying that NFL owners "have coalesced around charging a relocation fee" of $500-600M for each team that moves to L.A. The fee decision "is not set in stone and could change." But sources said that owners "generally agreed to the range soon after hearing from the league’s outside adviser, PJT Partners, last month." PJT "did not recommend the figure but provided an analysis that gave the owners comfort with the amount." Former Raiders Chief Exec Amy Trask said, "The numbers don’t surprise me. Part of the issue is over what period the money is paid out over -- five years, 20 years?” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/16 issue).
