Storyline: Moving to LA just seems wrong. Wrong time, wrong place. But what if they had become the California Chargers instead? Written by Jason Hurley, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Courtesy: Patch
Like many people I awoke Thursday morning to the news that another NFL team was packing its bags … but it wasn’t Oakland. It was the Chargers.
Even after tailed attempts to get a new stadium had stalled at the ballot box last fall, I still thought the team might stick around San Diego for a few more seasons. The Rams were overpriced (and frankly terrible) during their homecoming season — in a city where hype fades quickly.
LA survived many years without the NFL, but suddenly the city has two — two really bad NFL teams. Yay!
I had to wonder as I listened to the talking heads and read several articles. Did the Chargers miss a golden opportunity? Instead of the statement plastered on every San Diego fan’s Facebook page and parroted by the various sports commentators, imagine the impact if the front office had issued this statement instead:
Courtesy: LA Times
“After failed negotiations and many attempts to reach a deal for a new stadium, the Chargers’ organization has been left with the toughest decision we have ever had to make. We love the people of San Diego. Their loyalty and support of the past 50 years has been overwhelming. We want to be the football team for the people of San Diego, but we can no longer be their team in San Diego.
Starting in the 2017, we will take the field as the California Chargers. We have reached a deal with San Jose State University to play the next four seasons as our permanent home outside of (insert city here) is being constructed. Details of that new stadium will be released in the coming weeks. We know this move will devastate some and anger others. However, recent events have forced our hand. We hope–even as we move on to the next chapter of Charger history–that we can be not only San Diego’s team, but a team for the great state of California, as well.”
Imagine. A message that included the people of San Diego in the Charger’s future AND a move that made sense. Instead California gets a rerun of a bad idea.
Courtesy: Yahoo! Sports
Moving to LA just seems … wrong. Wrong time, wrong place … just wrong. While the StubHub Center is a fine facility, it’s a soccer stadium in a city were you come out of the gates as a second fiddle. They will get to enjoy the brand new and modern NFL stadium they desired, currently being constructed outside Los Angeles, but it will come at a price. Fans.
LA had the return of the Rams this season and the fans were rewarded with team that struggled on offense in an aging LA Colosseum. Rams’ fans are likely to look past that because of the history LA has with the franchise. But the Chargers have little, if any, nostalgia-equity in Los Angeles; one season hardly makes a history.
So, in one fell (or foul) swoop, the Chargers organization has alienated the people of San Diego. They’ve also put themselves behind the eight-ball for the next several seasons — as they try to draw fans away from the Rams.
Ah, what could have been.
