The Chargers are "working toward an imminent resolution" to their dealings with the Rams over whether to move to L.A., according to a front-page piece by Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. A source said, "Their goal is the end of this week." The source also said that it "appears moving to Los Angeles 'is what they want to do. That’s where ... it’s headed.'" But Acee cited sources as questioning whether Chargers Chair Dean Spanos’ "heart is truly in a move" to L.A. A source said, "I believe Dean will be very, very unhappy in Los Angeles." The upside for the Chargers in a move to L.A. is that they would "assume no risk via construction costs, minimal debt and still realize significant revenue gains over what is available in San Diego." A source said, "There is not a (financial) downside to L.A. (for the Chargers)" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/29). In L.A., Farmer & Fenno write the situation is "seen as less of a back-and-forth negotiation than a choice confronting the Chargers." They could "agree to a deal and move to L.A." for the '16 season or "accept a deal in principle with the idea of restarting negotiations for a new stadium in San Diego and keep L.A. as a fallback." The foundation of the proposed deal for the Chargers as a tenant "involves two theoretical buckets that contain various revenue streams." One bucket "has seldom-sold assets connected to the stadium such as naming rights and personal seat licenses from both teams." The $200M loan each team "would receive from the NFL toward stadium construction would go in the bucket, along with revenue from non-football events like soccer matches and conventions." Most of the first bucket "would go to pay off the multibillion-dollar stadium," and each team "would receive a percentage of revenues from that bucket." The league "has suggested 18.75% for each team." The second bucket "contains annually sold items connected to the teams such as tickets, game-day sponsorships, signage, concessions and parking." Each team "retains its revenue from that bucket" (L.A. TIMES, 1/29).
MOVING HEADQUARTERS: The SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE's Acee adds the Chargers' home base "would be in Orange County" should they move to L.A. The team this week "submitted grading and landscape plans for approval to the City of Santa Ana." The Chargers in a statement said, "The plans are for a five-acre parcel in Santa Ana that would be the location of the team’s interim headquarters and training facilities in the event the team exercises its option to relocate" to the L.A. area (SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, 1/29). In California, Scott Reid notes though a deal in principle "could be reached by the weekend," the Chargers "would still have the option of playing" the '16 season in San Diego. The team’s plan for a training site in Santa Ana if they relocate "calls for a practice and office complex" with two football fields "on the five-acre parcel and the team’s offices across the street." The fields and related team facilities would be built on a vacant lot" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/29).
DOUBLE DOWN: Veteran NFL agent Leigh Steinberg said, "The reality is that the Chargers’ franchise value would double in Inglewood, and it wouldn’t take them long. That is not going to happen in San Diego" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/29). In L.A., Rong-Gong Lin reports L.A. Memorial Coliseum Commission President Mark Ridley-Thomas "spoke favorably of having a second NFL team play at the publicly owned stadium but stopped short of making a decision." USC "has requested that the commission allow two teams to play at the stadium." Under a '13 lease agreement, USC is "prohibited from having more than one NFL team play there" (L.A. TIMES, 1/29). In California, Rich Hammond reports the commission "voted to retain" veteran NFL agent Jerome Stanley "as a likely negotiator with USC on NFL matters" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/29).
MASS TRANSIT: Also in California, Steve Scauzillo notes the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority BOD on Thursday voted to begin working with the city of Inglewood and the owners of the Rams and Chargers to "find ways to connect fans with mass transit." Coinciding with the proposed $2.6B football stadium in '19 "will be the opening of Metro’s Crenshaw-LAX light-rail line, currently under construction." The rail station "closest to the football stadium will be Downtown Inglewood Station, a few minutes walk away" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 1/29).
