NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Slams Saint Louis, San Diego, Oakland in New Report
The commissioner states current stadiums are “unsatisfactory and inadequate”.
In a 48-page report distributed to all 32 NFL teams, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell advocated for at least one team to move to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. The report was obtained by the Los Angeles Times. This comes after the NFL met with backers of each stadium proposal in New York.
While the report does not make any overtures as to which of the three clubs can relocate, it does say that none of the three proposals on the table that would keep the teams in their current cities “present viable long-term solutions”. Saint Louis and San Diego have seen concrete plans on the table, whereas Oakland has not put forward any plans for a new stadium.
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In the report, the NFL identified problems with the plans put forward by the cities of San Diego and Saint Louis. Goodell stated that the Saint Louis plan included league funding $100 million in excess of what is allowed under league policy. Chris Melvin, lead negotiator for the City and County of San Diego, accused the Chargers of dragging their feet, stating “we could have already gained voter approval” of the new Mission Valley site.
The Chargers and Raiders are planning a stadium in Carson, and the Rams are planning one in Inglewood. A third option is a mix of any of those three teams; in a letter sent after the meeting, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed support for the Chargers and Rams sharing the Inglewood plan. Chargers owner Dean Spanos rebuffed Jones, affirming his commitment to the $1.7 billion facility in Carson.
Next: Rams, Kroenke Rip St. Louis in Relocation Statement
NFL owners will meet in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday to vote on the plans for relocation. A plan will need 24 of 32 votes to pass.