Sam Farmer has a pretty good gig. He’s the NFL writer for the Los Angeles Times. And there’s no team in Los Angeles. So rather than doing locker room quotes and press conferences all week, he pretty much writes about whatever he wants.
Today he has this must-read Q&A for anyone interested in the Chargers’ push for a new stadium. The topic: An update on efforts to bring a pro team to L.A.
A highlight:
What’s the big question for an owner considering such a relocation?
It boils down to this: Is the cost of privately financing an $800-million stadium, giving up a piece of your team and possibly paying a large relocation fee better than what you have now?
That’s the leap of faith someone will have to make.
Which teams are most likely to relocate?
San Diego is the front-runner because the Chargers have a window each year to get out of their Qualcomm Stadium lease without the threat of a lawsuit. They also want a new stadium and haven’t been able to get one done there.
Jacksonville can’t get out as easily, but the Jaguars are in a dire situation. Even when they tarp thousands of seats, they can’t sell out their games. Others who potentially could relocate down the road are Minnesota, St. Louis, Buffalo and Oakland.
For a local perspective of where this thing is headed, check out Liam Dillon’s update on thevarious stadium options for the Chargers.