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 "The applications will be reviewed this week by league staff and
three league committees that will meet in New York on Wednesday and
Thursday -- the Los Angeles Opportunities, Stadium, and Finance
committees," the NFL statement said.
"The applications will be presented for consideration at next week's
league meeting in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The relocation of a franchise requires the affirmative vote of
three-quarters of the NFL clubs (24 out of 32)."
Monday was the first day organizations were eligible to petition the
league, as required by the NFL Policy and Procedures for Proposed
Franchise Relocations.
The Chargers, who have long sought a new stadium in San Diego,
released a statement offering their reasons for planning a switch to
Los Angeles.
"We have tried for more than 14 years, through nine separate
proposals and seven different mayors, to create a world-class
stadium experience for fans in San Diego," the Chargers, who spent
their inaugural season in Los Angeles in 1960, said.
"Despite these efforts, there is still no certain, actionable
solution to the stadium problem. We are sad to have reached this
point."
The Rams and Raiders also issued statements. "The St Louis Rams
informed the National Football League today that the Rams propose to
relocate to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The
relocation would be effective for the 2016 NFL League Year," said
the Rams, who were previously based in the Los Angeles area from
1946 to 1994. "In accordance with the relocation policies, the
Oakland Raiders submitted a relocation package to the NFL. The
matter is now in the hands of the NFL's owners," the Raiders added.
[to top of second column] |
The three teams have all suffered from a lack of fan interest in
their respective bases and have failed to field a team considered a
regular Super Bowl contender. The Rams, who moved to St Louis in
1995, finished the 2015 season bottom of the average attendance
statistics on 52,402 spectators per game.
Oakland, who also left Los Angeles in 1995, was third from last,
while San Diego was also in the bottom half.
The Rams have not made the postseason since 2004, the Raiders' last
trip was in 2002 and the Chargers punched a playoff ticket in 2013
but were the worst among the trio this past season, finishing 4-12.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto and Jahmal Corner in Los
Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)
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