Possible Purchaser for St Louis Rams

[Kingdome]

Sounds like Dave Checketts & Rush Limbaugh are putting together a bid for the team. Great news for St. Louis if they land the team. They wouldn't be able to move the team as long as Checketts ows the Blues. Limbaugh is a Missouri native, so I expect he would want to keep the team there.

 

[Sgt John]

KD: This is a good piece of information that is thread worthy on its own.

I think it would work out great for the fans. Id recently read an article on SI.com listing the Rams as a team with a strong chance of being moved to Los Angeles.

 

[MongerKhan]

Be silly if they went back to LA after they left there

 

[Phicinfan]

Be silly if they went back to LA after they left there

They have to move some team there....

INdy has a new stadium, Minny is working on one. I think the next logical team is Jacksonville. Fan base can't support the team...so a Californian Jaquar may be in the offing....if they ever get a friggin stadium in LA

 

[Mike]

Why do they have to move some team to Los Angeles? I personally think that would be a horrible result for any team. It's never worked out there before, no reason to think it should now. I honestly don't understand why the NFL is so hung up on forcefeeding a team into this location.

If they HAVE to put a team there, do it the next time the league expands. This city has never done anything when they had an NFL team to indicate they deserve an already established team.

Hell, the NFL bent over backwards in the last NFL expansion to get a team there, and the city failed to fight for it.

 

[mudloggerone]

I agree Mike. They do not deserve to take another cities team.

 

[Mike]

It just gets me how this seems to be such a priority for the NFL. They basically shoved what is not the Texans franchise down the city's throat, and the team still ended up in Houston.

 

[Kingdome]

They have to move some team there....

There are two former LA franchises, playing in older stadiums, in the state of California. I suspect one of them is candidate #1 for relocation. The other LA slot will be used to extort Minnesota & other places to build a new stadium or sweeten current stadium deals.

 

[Kingdome]

It's never worked out there before, no reason to think it should now. I honestly don't understand why the NFL is so hung up on forcefeeding a team into this location.

The only city that outdrew LA when they had the NFL was New York! It didn't fail, they just had crazy owners and crappy stadium situations. Put a single team in LA & it would sell out every game no problem. LA is way better sports market than its reputation. I can make the case LA > Chicago.

 

[Kingdome]

I agree Mike. They do not deserve to take another cities team.

Would you have a problem with them taking back a team? Raiders, Chargers, Rams all played in LA. In a perfect world just the Raiders move.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

It just gets me how this seems to be such a priority for the NFL. They basically shoved what is not the Texans franchise down the city's throat, and the team still ended up in Houston.

I think the league is looking ONLY at the $ of the market and not at the best interest of the incoming team.

 

[Phicinfan]

Why do they have to move some team to Los Angeles? I personally think that would be a horrible result for any team. It's never worked out there before, no reason to think it should now. I honestly don't understand why the NFL is so hung up on forcefeeding a team into this location.

If they HAVE to put a team there, do it the next time the league expands. This city has never done anything when they had an NFL team to indicate they deserve an already established team.

Hell, the NFL bent over backwards in the last NFL expansion to get a team there, and the city failed to fight for it.

Basically, it is the largest untapped TV market for the NFL. It is that simple. The assumption is...if you build a new stadium, and move an established NFL team there..you will drive up interest. Not sure i agree with that....

But then again...look at teams like Jacksonville. They have been very successful for the most part, have some definate star power at certain positions....and they can't draw anything. At least by moving to LA...they will get some early draw for a while.

 

[DearbornDolfan]

The problem with an expansion team is that LA is a fickle place. You can't move a team that can't compete early and often to LA or it will lose support quickly. But it's hard to move a good team because they have excellent fan bases. The two best teams to move would be the Jags or Bills, IMO, because they have solid talent but are in small markets.

If the Jags move, the best place to put an expansion team would be Orlando, mostly because of the massive economic base and having plenty of attractions in the area. Plus, since the NFL in basically in Disney's off-season, a new team wouldn't really disrupt the biggest cash cow in the area and would likely add revenue to Orlando in the long run.

But, assuming LA is given an established team that moves (Jacksonville, in this scenario) and Orlando acquires an expansion franchise, where is the other expansion market?

 

[Phicinfan]

Saw an article where the new "ownership" group is almost locked in on the stadium thing. Once finalized..they will target purchasing an existing franchise. Teams they list as targets were: Jacksonville, Buffalo, St. Louis, Minnesota and possible San Fran or San Diego if their new stadium deals fall through.

 

[RZR]

Having lived in LA for many years, I can tell you the market is more vain than fickle. I've seen people eat Ramen Noodles behind their friend's back just to have the money to get all dressed up in #1 player's jersey and cheer at the games. But you're right, which ever team moves into the area had better be able to win quickly because the market is hungry for a team of their own.

An expansion team doesn't make sense for two reasons. #1 One expansion team means a second team has to be formed and funded in order to keep the balance. Who and which market can afford to do that right now? None. Not with most of our states going bankrupt. #2 The ONLY reason this stadium is A) getting funded and built and B) the City of Walnut is allowing the stadium, parking, training & office facilities and traffic into the area is because Roski is pulling out his wallet left and right. Since Roski built the Staples Center in much the same fashion, he has a good track record for this type of project AND for benefiting the team that moves into his palace.

Roski is smart. He sought out one of the only pieces of land left thats large enough to build all this AND the land is in an area that isn't nearly as financially prosperous at its greedy neighbors. The economic plan for the area, coupled with the fact that they as tax payers won't be footing the bill means the local fans are already hyped up about meeting the team. Plus, he'll be taking advantage of the financial contributions gained by USC bowl games. For these reasons, the local fan base is eager to cheer on a FOOTBALL team of their own.

Count on a team moving into the can't-beat weather of So Cal. i disagree that the NFL is only looking for the $ of the market and not the best interest of the team. After years of discussions about this LA market (and all previous plans were rejected) the NFL was finally presented with an idea that makes sense for all.

 

[DearbornDolfan]

Rachelle: Okay, that's great, and I largely agree with you that most cities can't afford a new team. But Orlando is one city that can, even on the backs of taxpayers. Best roads I've ever driven on, bar none, and that kind of maintenance only happens with monstrous amounts of money being poured into the project. Any NFL stadium will, in the long run, be a huge net boost to Orlando.

Then again, the league DID have 31 teams for a couple years with the whole Browns situation. Who's to say the league can't stand pat on 33 until the economy turns around and a growing market is looking for a big attraction for a larger boost?

EDIT: Did a bit of research and found out San Antonio is the second largest TV market without a team, if you throw out LA, right behind... You guessed it, Orlando.

 

[Mike]

The only city that outdrew LA when they had the NFL was New York! It didn't fail, they just had crazy owners and crappy stadium situations. Put a single team in LA & it would sell out every game no problem. LA is way better sports market than its reputation. I can make the case LA > Chicago.

The Rams home games were blacked out regularly throughout the 90's

Raiders drew fans, but how many of those fans were from the Los Angeles area? This is a team that has a huge fan base all over California.

Maybe the City can hold a big fan base with regularity, but I will have to see it to believe it. With the Chargers not too far south (already drawing fans form the Los Angeles area), The Raiders and 9ers, who also draw many fans from the Los Angeles area, it is going to be tough to develop a solid fan base, and keep it.

It will take a team that is successful early on once they make the move, and they will have to maintain success. first hint of failure, and I see the fans quickly turning away. Just too many things going on in that area already.

 

[RZR]

But Orlando is one city that can, even on the backs of taxpayers..... EDIT: Did a bit of research and found out San Antonio is the second largest TV market without a team, if you throw out LA, right behind... You guessed it, Orlando.

True, Orlando has rolled in dough successfully for years and prolly could support a team with less stress than Micky sailed his steamboat. But when considering Mike's point in California it stands to reason the same theory can be applied to Florida too.

Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa Bay (plus Orlando?) vs. San Fran, Oakland and San Diego (plus Los Angeles?) hhmmm....

If we remove Roski and his personal plans from this equation it seems like your suggested San Antonio would be the most logical market to squeeze into, bringing Texas into a 3-team state instead of forcing a 4th team into an already tight market.

As long as the NFL and Roski can offer a team an improved market in which to grow and this whole venture isn't resting on making a rich man richer, then I'm interested to see this pan out. And you're right DD, the NFL could prolly figure out how to make a 33 team league work.

Let's just play off the theory that LA becomes an expansion team. Who would you hire to be the head coach?

 

[Mike]

Let's just play off the theory that LA becomes an expansion team. Who would you hire to be the head coach?

I don't. I decide who I think would be the best General Manager possible and go after him/her. Depending on legal ramifications, that first phone call is likely to Bill Polian. From there, I let him run the show.

I say that anyway. If I bought the team, I would probably be EXACTLY like Jerry Jones, and assume the GM duties. I might not be the best man for the job, but I will think that I am give it a try with the help of a salary cap guy.

And as owner and GM, I am going after Jon Gruden or Mike Shanahan. I think either of these two guys would make that little extra effort each day to succeed and take fans away from the Oakland Raider, if for nothing else, out of spite.

 

[RZR]

I don't. I decide who I think would be the best General Manager possible and go after him/her.

Crap. I was thinking GM/head coach and typed head coach... I'm watching Remember the Titans the movie and posted during the scenes where they're discussing head coaches... rookie move.

Good Call.