Slightly Off-Topic Chatstravaganza: The NFL's Return To Los Angeles

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 3:23 PM PDT in Chatstravaganza

Hiya, gang. It's another sleepy day in Lakerdom, so I'm gonna use the down time to solicit your views on something. It's a topic that's slowly burbling to the surface of the L.A. sports scene, and since many of you live or grew up here in SoCal, I'm interested to get your thoughts on it.

How do you feel about the NFL returning to Los Angeles?

As you might be aware, the L.A. City Council is on the verge of approving a preliminary agreement with Anschutz Entertainment Group to build a new football stadium in downtown Los Angeles. The stadium would go right next to Staples Center, which is also owned by AEG. The project wouldn't go forward until there's a binding agreement with an NFL team to move to L.A., but if everything goes according to plan the Lakers could have new NFL neighbors by 2016.

As SoCal sports fans, are you super excited about this idea? Indifferent to it? Opposed? And does your opinion depend on which franchise would be moving to L.A.? The most likely candidates seem to be the Rams, Raiders, Vikings and Chargers.

Please chime in with your thoughts, and when you do let us know whether or not you're located here in SoCal. Everyone's views are welcome, of course, but I'm especially interested in how SoCal sports fans as a geographically specific group are thinking about this.

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Born and raised in L.A., never liked the Rams. Loved the Raiders when they came to town, sad when they left.

Wouldn’t mind them returning; also wouldn’t mind the Chargers (too much) or the Vikings now that Fever is gone.

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. - Coco Chanel
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by SoCalGal on Aug 2, 2011 3:28 PM PDT reply actions

I haven't decided how I feel yet

The stadium deal seems not horrible (though it’s not as airtight as AEG is claiming), but I can’t say I’ve missed having an NFL team in L.A. these last 16 years.

Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

No, it hasn't been horrible without a team. My main concern is traffic and congestion.

I work downtown, albeit on the other end of town, and wouldn’t be there on weekends. But the idea of another 25K cars down there, particularly since there’s no decent public transportation in that area, makes me cringe. Getting anywhere on the 10 or 110 when there’s a home game will be a nightmare since a football stadium holds more than twice as many people as STAPLES.

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. - Coco Chanel
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by SoCalGal on Aug 2, 2011 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Just imagine what a Monday night game will be like

Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Heaven help us all.

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. - Coco Chanel
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by SoCalGal on Aug 2, 2011 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions

just 8 games a year to worry about (10 at the most)

I’m sure they can schedule around other events to reduce congestion.

Chukwudiebere Maduabum FTW!!!!!!!
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by shaqfor3 on Aug 2, 2011 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions

They'd have to.

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. - Coco Chanel
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by SoCalGal on Aug 2, 2011 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Including the NFL games, they're talking 25 or more events per year

To make it pay off financially, AEG will have to book a bunch of concerts, soccer games and what not. Granted, many of those events are things that would otherwise happen at the Coliseum or Rose Bowl, so it’s not necessarily incremental traffic. Some of it will be traffic rerouted from other areas and destinations.

Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions

i have dex! i need some nfl in my life

by illyistic1 on Aug 2, 2011 6:51 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Don't get me wrong, I love the NFL

I just haven’t really minded there not being a team based in L.A.

Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

born and raised in L.A socal, and never liked the rams?

thats the reason why they left! raIders were never “true” l.a. team. kept going back and forth. the rams WERE LOS ANGELES! look at the hall of fame list. the LOS ANGELES VIKINGS?…..cmon now…smh.

by Mark Jaramillo on Aug 2, 2011 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Wouldn't be the first time a pro sports team arrived from Minnesota

Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs

Haha!

"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by LakerAce on Aug 2, 2011 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

St. Louis Rams has never felt right and I liked the old uni's a whole lot more than what they have now (no offense to anyone),

heck, bring back the Cards to St. Louis also. Saints’ fan who remembers the old NFC West well and liked the LA Rams when they were not playing the Saints especially when this guy was there,

Eff the 49ers for all those butt kickings and close wins over the Saints, they always seemed to find a way to win most of the close ones also (well it’s not quite to that point anymore, meh on 49ers now). Liked Slater and Ellard a lot also.

"Fast Eddie: No bar?
Cashier: No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames, mister."

From the movie--The Hustler

GET TO THE RIM HEAT (and SKY)! ATTACK THE PAINT!

by mjtig on Aug 2, 2011 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions

yessirey!! remember the niners, saints, and the falcons were the nfc west back then. how things have changed!

by Mark Jaramillo on Aug 2, 2011 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

yep, but eff the Dirty Birds! Some things will never change ;)

"Fast Eddie: No bar?
Cashier: No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames, mister."

From the movie--The Hustler

GET TO THE RIM HEAT (and SKY)! ATTACK THE PAINT!

by mjtig on Aug 2, 2011 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

luv the rams would luv to see them come back to the cali

by illyistic1 on Aug 2, 2011 4:38 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

I like the idea of having a local NFL team

and while none of the teams are my #1 favorite team, I can easily root for any one of them if they came to LA

"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation."- Michael Jordan
twitter:@firstto100

by firstto100 on Aug 2, 2011 4:49 PM PDT reply actions

Bring on the "_______!" (insert whatever team comes)

I’d be happy with either one of those teams.

NBA, don’t leave me baby. I can try harder, i promise…….;(

"They call me the Muffin Man"

by true_lakerfan on Aug 2, 2011 5:11 PM PDT reply actions

I don't watch much football, but if I had to choose a team to support, it'd be the Raiders (I live in the Bay Area).

Problem is, Raider fans are TERRIBLE!!!! (generally true of most bay area teams). I’d like to see the Raiders go to L.A., who have way better fans.

"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by LakerAce on Aug 2, 2011 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

Im from oc born and raised

And also long time chargers fan and I would love to see the chargers come up here so I don’t have to drive as far and with them in a much larger market they will get way more money and be able spend it on the team/fans. Also word is that two teams will likely move to L.A.

"I promise you, we’re going to build a dictating, dominating, attacking defense. I’ve said it a million times. It’s not a slight on our offense, but we’re not going to win any world championship until we have that." - A.J. Smith

by njg425 on Aug 2, 2011 5:46 PM PDT reply actions

I will support any team which moves here (except the raiders)

that fan base is a disaster waiting to happen. Preferably, I’d like to see the Chargers or Rams return to LA.

Chukwudiebere Maduabum FTW!!!!!!!
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by shaqfor3 on Aug 2, 2011 6:10 PM PDT reply actions

I don't live in LA, so I don't really care all that much about a pro NFL team.

just wanted to say that damn, is it just me or does Dex look oh-so-like Ryan Phillipe in his new profile pic?

: )

by BigSkyCat on Aug 2, 2011 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

please no raiders...i know we're raider nation but their management is terrible.

I would take the Rams or the Vikings…

ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Roxbybirth on Aug 2, 2011 7:25 PM PDT reply actions

dont bring back the rams or (especially) the raiders. i wouldn’t mind the vikings or the bills, another possible candidate.

"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."

by chaucer on Aug 2, 2011 7:33 PM PDT reply actions

btw, very good article on mark heisler’s firing from lat.

"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."

by chaucer on Aug 2, 2011 7:59 PM PDT reply actions

Gracias

Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore

by DexterFishmore on Aug 2, 2011 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions

I still think we can win this series.

Dallas can’t shoot like that every game.

by LAMojo on Aug 2, 2011 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

I don't want the Raiders back in town

The saying that “it starts from the top” has never been more true when thinking about Al Davis’ actions. If Buss’ son keeps up with his same bullshit he might end up in the same boat. Personally, I would welcome any team expansion or not but fuck the Raiders.

"Hate me or love me. Its one or the other; always has been. Hate my game, my swagger. Hate my fadeaway, my hunger. Hate that I'm a veteran. A champion. Hate that. Hate it with all your heart. And hate that I'm loved for the exact same reasons." - Kobe Jelly Bean Bryant

by Jelly Bean on Aug 2, 2011 8:44 PM PDT reply actions

Vikings would make 2 purple teams in LA

Forget the Rams. They abandoned us.
Forget the Raiders. They’re too fickle. Come and go, come and go.
Chargers? Eh.
Vikings would be interesting. They get my vote. They always seemed to knock the Rams out of the playoffs in the 70s. Maybe they’ll do it again.

by st0rmchaser on Aug 2, 2011 9:50 PM PDT reply actions

Rams "abandoned us" because St. Louis gave them an absurdly attractive lease offer

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Aug 3, 2011 2:40 AM PDT up reply actions

OC born and raised

bring the Vikings, been rooting for the since Culpepper and Moss back in ’01.

Although lately (read: last 2-3 years) I haven’t been keeping up on the NFL at all.

Mo' Everything
"Please remember: it's not my fault your team sucks." - DexterFishmore
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by bluexfalcon on Aug 3, 2011 12:03 AM PDT reply actions

Chargers fan, so you can tell whom I want to move

Although I certainly would welcome the Rams, Vikings, or Jaguars in that order.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Aug 3, 2011 2:42 AM PDT reply actions

my order of preference would be

1. Rams/1A. Chargers
2. Jaguars
3. Vikings/3A. Raiders

"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation."- Michael Jordan
twitter:@firstto100

by firstto100 on Aug 3, 2011 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

It would be more of a home game for the visiting team,

in many cases.
Think of how many people in the LA basin are already fans of a team.
I and just about everyone I know fall into that category.
For teams like Pittsburgh, Green Bay, NY Giants, Chicago, etc., there would be so many fans at the games cheering the visiting team and rooting against the home team.
Add to that the fact that the LA team will probably be bad for many years and it will quickly lose the hype.

At this point in time, I could not care less about having an NFL team in LA, whether it’s downtown LA or in the City of Industry.

But I do want David Stern and the owners to stop acting like royalty and issuing proclamations, and be serious about negotiating and Compromising with the players so we can have basketball.

You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
When you have the solarminite, you have nothing - nor does the universe!

by Plan9FOS on Aug 3, 2011 10:35 PM PDT reply actions