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San Diego Chargers to decide on relocation after the season

By Brad Berreman

Dec 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos (L) talks with general manager Tom Telesco (R) prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos (L) talks with general manager Tom Telesco (R) prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the deadline for a decision a month away, the San Diego Chargers are waiting to determine if they will relocate.

When the Rams’ move to Los Angeles was approved last January, a principal agreement allowing the San Diego Chargers he option to join them was approved. NFL owners unanimously approved a final tenant-lease agreement between the Chargers and the Rams on Wednesday, and the Chargers now have until Jan. 15 to exercise their option to move to Los Angeles.

A ballot measure to approve public funding for a new Chargers’ stadium in San Diego was voted down in November. That has cast the franchise’s viable future there into doubt, but Chargers’ owner Dean Spanos has reiterated that a decision will not be made about moving to Los Angeles until after the regular season is over.

Under that timetable, the Chargers will have essentially two weeks to make their decision on relocation after a Jan. 1 regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. The prospect of NFL oversaturation with two teams in Los Angeles is not a concern for commissioner Roger Goodell.

"“It’s a great market,” Goodell said. “We know we have millions of fans there, but it’s also a challenging market. They demand to see that we’re doing everything possible to put the best product on the field. I’m convinced the stadium project itself is going to be world-renowned. I think the entertainment aspect of it, and the stadium itself and around it, is going to be absolutely extraordinary.”"

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On the other hand, Rams owner Stan Kroenke would surely rather not share the team’s state-of-the-art new stadium with another team in a few years. But owners also approved the Chargers use of a debt waiver to finance part of the league’s $650 million relocation fee, which makes the decision to move much more palatable for Spanos.

After over 20 years without a team in Los Angeles, the NFL looks certain to have two in the area in 2017.

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