The Chargers today are expected to announce they are moving to L.A., sources said. That would end a "55-year stint" in San Diego; the team played its inaugural '60 season in L.A. before moving south in '61. One source "insisted nothing is final" and said that Chargers Chair
Dean Spanos "had yet to send a formal relocation letter to the NFL or notify public officials ... of the team's move – or even tell the members of the Chargers organization about his plans" (
ESPN.com, 1/12). Sources said that this week's NFL committee meetings were "seen as the last opportunity for a solution" by Spanos, but "none came" (
NFL.com, 1/12). This comes "within 24 hours" before San Diego Mayor
Kevin Faulconer’s state of the city address (
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/12).
Spanos has called a staff meeting for 8:00am PT today, at which time he is "expected to inform his employees" of the impending move (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/12). A decision "will be made thereafter about how and when to proceed with a formal announcement." The team has until Tuesday to exercise its L.A. option (WASHINGTON POST, 1/12). Spanos is "expected to make an appearance" in L.A. later today (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/12).
In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes the Chargers "should hear this as their moving vans are chugging up the 5 Freeway on their noble mission of greed. We. Don't. Want. You" (L.A. TIMES, 1/12).
