Oakland Raiders Not on the Way Out of Town Just Yet
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Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke on the sidelines prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Logjam to Get to L.A.
While the Raiders and Chargers were trying to get leverage to get a new stadium, Rams owner Stan Kroenke took steps. The billionaire has kept rather quiet and just bought land in Inglewood California to build an 80,000o-seat stadium. The original idea was for there to be one team in L.A. first, then possibly bring in another team.
Kroenke is using his own money, doesn’t need anyone and may sue the NFL if he’s blocked from it. But I can’t see where he would be blocked from it when he can do everything with no help from the NFL. The Chargers and Raiders need each other to move there and two teams at a time isn’t what the NFL wanted.
Whoever goes to L.A. could triple the value of the franchise from roughly $1 billion now to $3 billion, sports economists estimate. But they have to do things right for this to work because L.A. is a big market but not automatic. So really, the most logical choice for the NFL to make at this time would be to allow the Rams to go back home.
Kroenke, the owner of five other professional franchises including the NBA Denver Nuggets, is perfect for the job. He’s a genuine sports mogul that has already shown he has the ability to make things work. So vote or not, which I believe he will get, Kroenke is on his way and the Raiders will have to wait to see how he does if they really want to go.
Last week, an advisory group appointed by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer unveiled a proposed $1.4 billion financing plan for a 65,000-seat stadium for the Chargers near the team’s existing home at Qualcomm Stadium. So Davis really isn’t that likely to get Spanos as the partner he needs to move down there.
It looks more like a Chargers and Raiders playing a leverage game while Kroenke isn’t playing and could care less about St. Louis building a stadium.
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