CollegeSportsInfo.com News: NFL Expansion & Realignment Rumors

Friday, May 26, 2006

NFL Expansion & Realignment Rumors

Occasionally, we'll touch on topics of sports business, especially expansion and realignment within pro sports. The hot rumor going around this week is one that actually makes plenty of sense. The NFL is set on having pro football in the Los Angeles market. There are a few scenarios we've heard of that all make sense...but one seems logical. Some of the rumors have included:

1) Arizona Cardinals move to Los Angeles: This was popular in the past, but with a new stadium the team is not moving.
2) Indianapolis Colts to Los Angeles: This doesn't look like it will happen either
3) Minnesota Vikings move to Los Angeles: not going to happen either

Now we get into the rumors that do make some sense....

4) Jacksonville Jaguars to Los Angeles: The NFL expanded in the Florida market, adding a third team from the football talent rich state. Had the NFL known that the Rams would move to St. Louis, Jacksonville would never had gotten a team. But they did, and now we have the #2 US market without a team while Jacksonville a market not in the top 50 has a team. The team has had problems recently in regards to the sharing of revenues with the city from stadium advertisements. If the NFL were to relocate a team to LA, the Jaguars would make sense.

5) New Orleans Saints to Los Angeles: This is a move that remains on the radar. Owner Benson would prefer to move the team to San Antonio. But that market is too small in the eyes of the NFL. In the perfect world, Benson would sell the team to the NFL which would find a new owner and relocate the team to Southern California. A Reggie Bush homecoming would boost ticket sales as well.

6) San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles: This is certainly the 2nd best option out there for the NFL. The Chargers were originally from Los Angeles, and the Anaheim market would be ideal for the team. You'll already find plenty of Chargers fans in Orange County who make the trek down to San Diego on Sundays. If the Chargers moved to Anaheim, there would be San Diego residents who would remain loyal. The issue with San Diego has been a new stadium and the city just can't afford to help finance a new stadium or give land to the Chargers. The catch with the Chargers: they could actually do the reverse of the Angels baseball team and go with a more regionally attractive name such as the "Southern California Chargers". By incorporating the Southern California qualifier into their name, the team could have appeal in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego as the team would be the only NFL team in the Southern California market.

7) LA Gets an Expansion Team: The Dodgers, the Lakers...even the Raiders at one time...all were relocated teams to LA. Sentiment has seemed to be that most fans would prefer an expansion team rather than a retread. But with 32 NFL teams in eight (4) team divisions, expansion isn't that easy. If a team were to relocate to LA, a nickname change might be required out side the Chargers and a certain Bay Area team.

And the scenario that makes the most sense...

8) Oakland Raiders relocate back to Los Angeles: When driving around Los Angeles, you'll see more Raiders bumperstickers and decals than Dodgers or Angels. The Raiders are still part of the Los Angeles lexicon. A Raiders LA homecoming would be the best possible move by the NFL. Any other team would have a difficult time building a following. The Raiders would instantly be accepted. The stadium issues in Oakland may open the doors to a possible move back to LA. But Al Davis will probably still be the owner, despite recent rumblings that he will sell the team to any other group, including one headed by Eddie DeBartolo and Carmen Policy.

LA will have a team again. How, Who and When are still the issues. But the NFL is smart and they know the Raiders are the best candidate for an instant moneymaker in the market. The question is could they pull it off.

posted by Matt Peloquin # 5/26/2006

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Comments:

The Raiders moving back to LA has been a pretty popular rumor but I really don't think it is true. Al knows that his team belongs in Oakland and I don't think it will be moved until Al is no longer with us.

-----------------------------------------------
TheOaklandRaiders.blogspot.com

# posted by

The Analyzer : 5:00 PM

I most likely see the Jaguars moving due to there market size, little success, and that New Orleans will not probably move since the team gives its' city hope since Hurricane Katrina.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:47 PM

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