NFL owners gathered for their annual meeting in Phoenix this past week, and New York Giants’ owner John Mara made some rather interesting comments to reporters. He indicated that at least one team will be on the move to Los Angeles in 2016 (via NFL.com).
I think there’s going to be 1-2 teams playing in Los Angeles next year,” Mara said.
When asked to further clarify his comment, Mara, one of the most respected owners in the NFL, said he believes one team will end up playing in Los Angeles in 2016.
There are three possible candidates that could move to Los Angeles next year. The St. Louis Rams, who already have stadium plans underway in Inglewood, would seem to be the closest. Inglewood’s city council already approved the building of a stadium, which will undergo a groundbreaking later this year.
In addition to that, the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers have entered into a joint plan to build a stadium in Carson, California.
The NFL plans on addressing relocation with clubs during a meeting on Monday. It will be interesting to see what’s leaked from that update, especially after Mara’s rather frank comments.
This is the latest of many indications from league leaders that seem to be pointing in the direction of a NFL team moving back to the nation’s second-largest media market.
Photo: USA Today