The Chargers have "leased a new headquarters and training facility in Costa Mesa in case the team moves" to L.A., but the lease "has an 'out' clause if the Chargers decide to stay in San Diego," according to David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. The Chargers "must decide by Jan. 15 whether to exercise an option to join the Rams in a new stadium under construction in Inglewood." The training facility and offices are "roughly 40 miles from Inglewood." In addition to the offices in Costa Mesa, the Chargers "would have a sales center in the new stadium complex, a team official confirmed." If the Chargers move, the team "could make the site its new permanent headquarters." However, a source said that other sites "would also be considered" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/24). In San Diego, Kevin Acee noted San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, County Supervisor Ron Roberts and San Diego State Univ. President Elliot Hirshman met Thursday with Chargers Chair Dean Spanos. Sources said that "progress was made and the meeting was encouraging." The sides "inched closer on an understanding of what the financial framework" of a stadium deal "might look like, though no concrete agreements were reached and no promises made." The Chargers and NFL have said that they "need to know specifics from San Diego officials in order for Spanos to make a decision about whether he will move" his team to L.A. (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/24).
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: THE MMQB's Peter King wrote if the Chargers move to L.A. for the '17 season, his "money is on them playing at the StubHub Center." The capacity for the StubHub Center is 27,000. King: "Now that'd be interesting for two years." The Chargers are "serious about making that home for two years, in part because they know they’re not going to fill the cavernous" L.A. Memorial Coliseum and in part because they would like to "develop a fandom that would love to see NFL games up close and personal" (MMQB.SI.com, 12/26).
TWO'S A CROWD? In California, Jeff Miller wrote, "I’ve never been shy in expressing my belief that the Chargers would struggle as the second NFL team" in L.A. For starters, the first NFL team around here "continues to barely be noticed." Miller: "I’m not going to suggest that no one would attend Chargers games here. I’m sure dozens, if not hundreds, of people would come out on most Sundays and resist the urge to ignore two NFL teams in Los Angeles. It’s just that this bunch now has stopped drawing fans in San Diego, where the franchise’s history stretches back more than 50 years" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/25).
