The NFL yesterday at its owners meeting in Irving, Texas, set Dec. 28 as a deadline to submit a viable stadium proposal for the three cities vying to keep their teams from relocating to L.A. next season. The only one that can realistically meet the deadline is St. Louis, with Oakland and San Diego far from a solid stadium plan. The league also scheduled a special L.A. meeting for Jan. 12-13 in Houston, when owners may vote on relocation. Asked if the owners would certainly vote at that time, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell replied, “I don’t know.” Relocation proposals cannot be submitted until Jan. 4 at the earliest. Colts Owner Jim Irsay said if a vote were to occur now, neither the Carson nor Inglewood projects would get the 24 owner votes necessary, but he hoped by next month that would change (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer). Goodell said, "I'm in favor of making sure this is done the correct way." Goodell added that the league "would like to 'make a decision as soon as possible' but is still weighing the merit of proposals in Southern California as well as progress toward new facilities in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland." Goodell: "What are the home markets willing to do? That has been a big focus of the committee" (USATODAY.com, 12/2). In L.A., Farmer & Fenno note while momentum is "building toward a January vote, there are no guarantees in a process that has meandered since the Raiders and Rams left the L.A. market" after the '94 season. Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said of voting next month in Houston, "I don't guarantee it, but I certainly think that that's where we're trying to head to. I think that's important since we have the ability to put a team there -- or teams -- we ought to do it." Farmer & Fenno note three of the Committee on L.A. Opportunities members -- Giants President & CEO John Mara, Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt and Texans Owner Bob McNair -- expressed a "desire for a definitive vote in January" (L.A. TIMES, 12/3).
TIME RUNNING SHORT: In San Diego, Kevin Acee in a front-page piece reports the possibility that the Chargers will move to L.A. "became our probability" when Goodell yesterday "confirmed San Diego is all but out of time to put together a viable plan" to keep the team. Goodell said it "certainly appears" the city is out of time. He added that in order for a home market to "have a chance to keep its team, it must present 'certainty' in its plan." Goodell: "Certainty means no further votes required, that there is a deal that is fully approved, that there are not complications that are unforeseen, that this project can be completed. It’s that simple." Acee notes Goodell’s judgment was "shocking only in its finality." It has "long been a given that San Diego, with its plan for a June 2016 ballot measure and the Chargers opposition to so much of the city/county proposal, needed an extra year to have a chance." Meanwhile, Rams Owner Stan Kroenke last week "notified the NFL that he is willing to bring on a second team as an equal partner." Goodell said Kroenke’s plan was "positively received" by the owners, who were briefed yesterday. One league official said that the proposal was a "starting point for negotiations." Sources said that while the proposal from Kroenke "did not specify a team ... the Chargers were the likely intended partner." However, sources from both the Raiders and Chargers yesterday "affirmed their commitment to each other and the Carson project" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/3).
NO NEW PARTNERSHIPS: ESPN.com's Todd Archer cited sources as saying that at this point, there is "zero chance of a partnership" between Kroenke and Chargers Chair Dean Spanos. Meanwhile, a source told ESPN's Shelley Smith that the Raiders "still believe they have a chance to move to L.A. and that they have a better chance with the Chargers than the Rams if paired on a stadium deal." A source said that the Raiders and Chargers are "set to meet with StubHub Center officials next week regarding training/game site operations" (ESPN.com, 12/2). In N.Y., Ken Belson notes it was "unclear if the Chargers or the Raiders were interested" in Kroenke’s proposal. In October, Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger said that he would "advise the Chargers on their stadium project if they were allowed to leave San Diego." Some NFL owners "viewed the announcement positively because Disney has experience running entertainment properties" and because Iger could "attract sponsors and ticket holders" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/3).
FALLING INTO A BLACK HOLE? CSNBAYAREA.com's Scott Bair reported one theory "making the rounds in Texas is that presence of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara could mean the Raiders don’t meet the league’s relocation guidelines." The idea is that the 49ers' stadium "is ready to house two NFL teams and could be considered a viable, ready-to-go stadium option, even temporarily, for the Raiders." That is despite the fact Raiders Owner Mark Davis has "said time and again he doesn’t want to play there." Holding the Raiders back from relocating "with that logic seems difficult at best." Davis yesterday appeared on NFL Network and reiterated that he is "not going to Santa Clara and doesn’t want to go to St. Louis if the Rams vacate that market." Amid reports the Raiders, and not the Chargers, could partner with Kroenke, Davis said, "I have an equitable partner. It's Dean Spanos" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/2).
