The NFL returns to Los Angeles

Paul Allen was also involved.  He hadn't attended a league meeting in over 4 years but he showed up yesterday to support the Inglewood plan.  Kroenke and Allen are the two richest owners in the NFL.  

The Inglewood plan has potential for much larger revenue because it's also a massive entertainment complex that will contain the NFL Network studios, hotels, restaurants, luxury condos, etc on 300 acres of land.  It's essentially going to be "Universal studios for the NFL".  I think the proximity to LAX (and the upscale westside in general) also made that site more attractive than the former landfill in Carson surrounded by strip malls and warehouses.

The whole thing is just sleazy.

I'd have more respect for the NFL if  a year or more ago they'd have just said "Screw St. Louis.  We can make a boatload of money in Inglewood so we're outta here."  Instead we got this big song and dance about the relocation rules and coming up with a viable alternative and blah, blah, blah.

I was hoping LA was gonna get a brand new team. I grew up with the Rams playing only a few miles away at the old Anaheim stadium. The Eric Dickerson era.

The NFL was always going to put a franchise in Los Angeles, they were waiting for the right stadium plan to materialize. Having LA empty also gave them leverage to blackmail cities all over the country to pay for new stadiums for the past 20 years, now that almost all of those stadiums are in process and the only remaining issues were St. Louis, Oakland and San Diego they decided it was the right time to go ahead and get a team back in LA, it had served its purpose as a threat.

The Inglewood stadium is privately financed so they didn't have to go begging to the Los Angeles tax payers. The NFL is looking at this new stadium complex as their west coast headquarters and Kroenke is both paying for the stadium...and giving the NFL $550 million for "relocation fee".

Forbes magazine estimates that the Rams franchise is already worth 35-50% more now than they were at the start of the day yesterday.

The lure of the cash and exposure that comes with being in both the second biggest city in the country and also the entertainment capital of the world is just too intoxicating. The NFL has always been solely a business and they exist to make the owners money...and they plan on making a killing in Los Angeles.

Some more details on the stadium:

"70,000 seats, the stadium will be capable of expanding to 80,000 seats for special events, and it will be part of a massive entertainment, retail and residential complex.

The project will include 890,000 square feet of retail space, 780,000 square feet for office use, 2,500 residential units, a 6,000-square-foot performing arts center and a 300-room hotel.

Having a stadium with a retractable roof also means the board’s partner organization, the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, can actively pitch for megaevents such as the NCAA Final Four and Super Bowl."

Breaking NFL news!

NFL To Move All 32 Teams To Los Angeles

chewie wrote:

Breaking NFL news!

NFL To Move All 32 Teams To Los Angeles

tohostudios wrote:

The whole thing is just sleazy.

I agree. I've been reading some of the articles about how far St. Louis (and the state) was willing to go to keep the Rams there and it was a huge waste of effort, Kroenke never had any intention of staying there. I'm kind of surprised St. Louis even bothered after he purchased the old Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood 2 years ago, the writing was clearly on the wall. It's a sad state of affairs and I feel sorry for both the city and the fans, but at the same time you guys have the opportunity to get something really valuable with that half a billion in tax money, instead of giving it to the billionaire boys club.

On a humorous note I was talking to a guy at work yesterday and when I asked him how he felt about the Rams coming back he said "F*ck 'em, I've hated them since they left." When I responded that yeah, 1995 was a hard year losing two teams he said: "1995? I've hated them since they went down to Anaheim in 1980!"

You know, I don't actually hate the Rams per se; they can't control what the owner does.  And (even though we've said this here every year for the past decade) they seem to be on the cusp of being a decent team.  But I want them to suck hard just so Kroenke doesn't get the windfall he seems destined to get.

Kroenke is about to learn the secret to success in Los Angeles. Winning. The Rams are not the only sports or entertainment options available, we've got a cornucopia of choices here. So if Kroenke wants Angelenos to fork over their dollars I suggest he puts a competitive product on the field. He has 3 years at Memorial Coliseum, if that ends up being 3 losing seasons he's going to have issues filling that shiny new stadium in Inglewood.

One can only hope. 

That's the part of his logic that I don't understand.  Winning is the secret to success anywhere.  During the "Greatest Show On Turf" era, the Rams sold out the Ed Jones dome every week.  But that was 12 years ago and we've had nothing but losing seasons since.  Unless he's going to sink more money into acquiring better players, what makes him think continuing the losing tradition in LA is going to make a difference?  LA sure has a hell of a lot more things to do, sports and otherwise, than St. Louis does.

I think it is in the best interest of the Inglewood project that they convince the Chargers to get in there and share the stadium with them.  That doubles their chances for success, then maybe if one of the teams is completely sucking the other one might be okay.  

I lived in Seattle in the 90s when the Seahawks were still in the Kingdome, had been losing games for decades and were struggling with attendance issues.  It took a new owner, a new stadium, a couple different head coaches and several years to turn things around...and it was still over a decade before they actually won a Super Bowl title.

The Rams won't get away with 12 years of losing here...we also have:

Dodgers
Lakers
Clippers
Kings
Sparks
Los Angeles Galaxy
Trojans
Bruins
Angels
Ducks

and L.A. KISS!

That's why I'm hoping they suck for about 5 more years.  Nothing against the players at all but I want to see Stan have to eat crow when he realizes no city will support a team that loses year after year. 

But I can already see next year.  I bet the Rams make the playoffs.  If they ever get a real QB and a go-to receiver they will take the NFC West. They already have a stout defense and now a stud running back.  In fact, I'll probably still root for Todd Gurley even after they've moved because he's just fun to watch.

I'm actually more excited about them playing in the old Memorial Coliseum for 3 years than anything else. It will be nice to see some professional football in that particular setting. Gorgeous 90 year old building, lots of history, natural grass turf. Plus I live within walking distance.

As I used to follow the Seahawks it's a little painful to think about cheering for the f**king Rams.

On a side note, a local sports bar chain here is doing something I think is pretty cool.

They will give you a free sandwich and small soda if you come in and donate some "gently used" Rams gear that they will then give to homeless shelters and other such charities out in LA.  That makes a lot more sense than burning the stuff.

I have a Kurt Warner jersey and a Tory Holt jersey but I think I'll keep 'em.

tohostudios wrote:

On a side note, a local sports bar chain here is doing something I think is pretty cool.

They will give you a free sandwich and small soda if you come in and donate some "gently used" Rams gear that they will then give to homeless shelters and other such charities out in LA.  That makes a lot more sense than burning the stuff.

I read about that on Twitter, very cool. I've seen other places in St. Louis doing similar things.

I also have a framed and autographed picture of Kurt Warner from the championship season commemorating his retirement in 2010.  it's #1 of 1999 such collectibles.  It's hanging in my basement and that's not going anywhere.

tohostudios wrote:

I also have a framed and autographed picture of Kurt Warner from the championship season commemorating his retirement in 2010.  it's #1 of 1999 such collectibles.  It's hanging in my basement and that's not going anywhere.

There's no reason to get rid of that type of stuff. It's historical and probably has sentimental value...plus it was a decade before any of this stuff happened. I think St. Louis should be able to remain proud of their Championship.

On the entrepreneurial side of things, someone here is already selling a Stan Kroenke dartboard.  Of course it features Stan's mug in the bullseye but also each section has fictional reasons why he wanted to leave St. Louis.  Stuff like "Found out Stan Span (new bridge named for Musial) wasn't name for me".

tohostudios wrote:

On the entrepreneurial side of things, someone here is already selling a Stan Kroenke dartboard.  Of course it features Stan's mug in the bullseye but also each section has fictional reasons why he wanted to leave St. Louis.  Stuff like "Found out Stan Span (new bridge named for Musial) wasn't name for me".

Awesome.

I may actually get one. 

I ran an amusement park game stand for about 5 summers when I was a teen and I got pretty good with darts.  I bet with a little practice to knock the rust off I could nail old Stan 4 out of 5 times.

tohostudios wrote:

I may actually get one. 

I ran an amusement park game stand for about 5 summers when I was a teen and I got pretty good with darts.  I bet with a little practice to knock the rust off I could nail old Stan 4 out of 5 times.

The thrash band I did some roadie work for in the early 90s had a "Kip Winger dart board" in their practice room.

There's just something very satisfying about throwing darts at a picture of someone you don't like.

S.D. wrote:

I think it is in the best interest of the Inglewood project that they convince the Chargers to get in there and share the stadium with them.  That doubles their chances for success, then maybe if one of the teams is completely sucking the other one might be okay.  

I lived in Seattle in the 90s when the Seahawks were still in the Kingdome, had been losing games for decades and were struggling with attendance issues.  It took a new owner, a new stadium, a couple different head coaches and several years to turn things around...and it was still over a decade before they actually won a Super Bowl title.

The Rams won't get away with 12 years of losing here...we also have:

Dodgers
Lakers
Clippers
Kings
Sparks
Los Angeles Galaxy
Trojans
Bruins
Angels
Ducks

and L.A. KISS!  

He said "we also have the Sparks". (But, point taken! That just tickled me a little bit.)

scottmitchell74 wrote:

He said "we also have the Sparks". (But, point taken! That just tickled me a little bit.)

I know nothing about sports outside the NFL. I had to google search the professional teams in Los Angeles.