If you have not heard by now, there was some big news on Tuesday. Earlier in the season, the St. Louis Rams turned in an application for relocation to Los Angeles, citing that, among other things, “any team trying to start up in St. Louis will suffer financial ruin.” On Tuesday night, the owners of all 32 teams voted on whether to approve the move to Los Angeles. By a vote of 30-2, the owners approved the team’s relocation to Los Angeles. The now L.A. Rams will begin their first season in L.A. in 2016.
However, it isn’t just big news for the Rams. This also means that the San Diego Chargers will now have until January 2017 to negotiate a lease for the new stadium that the Rams will call home. In layman’s terms, the Chargers has 366 days (remember, it is a leap year) to join the Rams in L.A. If no decision is reached by January 15, 2017; the option to move to L.A. will then be open to the Oakland Raiders.
I know what you’re thinking. Why now? Well, actually, the move was smart for two reasons. Number 1, the Rams were originally located in Los Angeles, then moved to St. Louis 21 years ago. Moving back to Los Angeles will finally give former Los Angeles Rams fans from 21 years ago something to cheer about. Number 2, if there was any city in which I would call a doomed city, St. Louis would be it. As the Rams owner said in the application, “St. Louis is a hotspot for financial ruin.” The city is more famous for the Gateway Arch than it is for its former team.
I guess there is one other big reason, and that is this: Soon after the Rams was approved for relocation to L.A., our own Indianapolis Colts began to try and lure St. Louis fans, who are now without a team, to come cheer on the Colts. However, whether this is ethical or not continues to be debated on ESPN, but for right now, former St. Louis fans have two options: A. Go to L.A., or B. Join the Colts in Indianapolis.
I think this was a smart move by the Rams on their part, because as the Rams said, the financial ruin part is spot-on, considering that the city is currently a sinking ship and looks to be like a dead city. The Rams jumped ship while they still could, and now L.A., in addition to being the entertainment capital of the world (Hollywood, anyone?) as well as the L.A. Clippers and Lakers, they now have the Rams joining them after a 21-year absence…a welcome move for L.A., especially for former L.A. fans from 21 years ago. So, as far as I’m concerned, this is a smart move. And I expect the L.A. stadium to be packed at the first home game of the year, both with old L.A. fans from 21 years ago as well as new. I wish the Rams the best of luck next season. I will be watching their progress with interest.