Mickalino Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Sorry if this was already posted NFL Expresses Interest in Anaheim Franchise Wed Aug 25, 8:51 PM ET ANAHEIM, Calif. - The NFL has approached Anaheim city officials about possibly building a stadium complex for an NFL franchise that could begin play as soon as 2008. The area has been without an NFL team since the Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis and the Raiders went from Los Angeles to Oakland before the 1995 season. "We're evaluating a possible stadium project in Anaheim with city officials along with the three sites in the Los Angeles area," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said late Wednesday by telephone from New York. "The discussions are exploratory and preliminary at this point." Aiello referred to the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Raiders played before returning to Oakland; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and a proposed site in Carson. "We're working off a time line that would have us make a decision next May," Aiello said. "As far as when a team could start playing there, it could be '08, it could be '09. We haven't addressed the issue of a team in the Los Angeles area. "Our sole purpose at this time is to develop some stadium alternatives for the league. This is part of our due diligence in terms of identifying outstanding potential stadium sites in the best markets." The proposed site in Anaheim is located next to Angel Stadium, where the Rams played. Anaheim Arena, where the NHL's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim play, is also located nearby. "There is significant interest from the Anaheim City Council and City management in bringing additional professional sports franchises to the city of Anaheim," Mayor Curt Pringle said. "The success and popularity of our teams — the Anaheim Angels (news) and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim — prove that fans from all over California travel to Anaheim to watch quality franchises and having an NFL team return to our city would be a welcome addition." John Nicoletti, Anaheim's public information manager, said NFL officials have made several visits to the Anaheim and the prospective site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 There should be football in LA. There should also be baseball in DC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 ok, Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, how many teams does that state really need? I think an a state where there is no team should get one, though I guess they need to have fan support as well as a large population. Plus, won't they have to make another team somewhere to keep the balance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w33dh0l3 Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Yeah I thought the NFL liked the balance of 32 teams and wanted to keep it that way for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gridironmike Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Ahem...could be that the team a little south of LA moves back to its original home and becomes the Los Angeles Chargers. If not, don't discount the LA Colts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WallyG3 Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 OK fellas, I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but here's the skinny: Mr S. - There are only 3 countries on Earth that have a larger economy than California by itself. It's a large, and highly populated state. It makes a lot more sense to put a team in Los Angeles than any other state without a team. LA and Orange County have a population of around 13 Million and growing. New York and Florida are THE ONLY states with populations bigger than the LA/OC area. w33dh0l3 - An expansion team is out. The NFL will move another existing team. gridironmike - There is still talk of the Chargers, but in my opinion, it would be a huge mistake to move them to LA because of the hordes of (division rival) Raider fans. Anaheim could work, but it'd be a pretty big risk. Colts are a good possibility and my choice, but who knows? Either way I think they'll have to change the name and look of the team (a la the Titans and Ravens) in order for it to catch on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inmate running the asylum Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inmate running the asylum Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 I'm in Los Angeles and the fans here dont want a friggin team. Who wants to see the friggin Los Angeles Chargers on television every Sunday? :doh: The way it is now, we get to see the best game matchups every Sunday. Course I'm a Redskin fan and that may have something to do with it. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Is this Kobe's fault?? I know he wants to be closer to an NFL team but dammmm!! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 The last thing we need is ANOTHER expansion team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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