The Raiders have formally applied for relocation to the Los Angeles market, the NFL announced on Monday night. The Raiders, San Diego Chargers and St. Louis all submitted their application on the first day of the NFL’s relocation window, which lasts from Jan. 4-Feb. 15.
All teams, including the Raiders, were expected to apply for relocation right away.
The Raiders and Chargers have teamed up on a joint stadium proposal in Carson. The Rams are pushing a competing stadium concept and surrounding real estate development in Inglewood.
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The league has met several times on the L.A. situation, and a decision could be coming soon.
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NFL committees on Los Angeles relocation, stadiums and finance, will meet this week in New York and discuss the three applications. The full ownership will meet in Houston next week and could vote on which teams will move to L.A.
“In accordance with the relocation policies, the Oakland Raiders submitted a relocation package to the NFL,” the team said in a statement. “The matter is now in the hands of the NFL’s owners.”
NFL
It seems likely that the league will select one or possibly two teams to relocate to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. Relocation applications must be approved by a three-quarters vote. The Raiders and Chargers or the Rams need 24 yes votes to go ahead with their stadium proposals.
It is believed both sides have nine votes required to block the competition’s plan. The Carson plan seems to have more support, though this situation remains uncertain and in flux.
The committee on Los Angeles will reportedly make a recommendation before a vote.
It is also possible that the NFL tables relocation until the 2017 season, though some powerful owners have said they believe at least one team will play in Los Angeles next season.
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The Raiders have struggled to find a long-term solution in the East Bay, where owner Mark Davis insists he wants to stay. Oakland isn’t far along in its stadium proposal, and the city and Raiders have not entered formal negotiations.
Here is the complete NFL statement on these relocation applications:
“Three teams – the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego Chargers – each submitted applications to our office today to relocate their franchises to the Los Angeles area beginning with the 2016 season. Each team submitted the appropriate documentation in support of its application as required by the NFL Policy and Procedures for Proposed Franchise Relocations.
“The applications will be reviewed this week by league staff and three league committees that will meet in New York on Wednesday and Thursday -- the Los Angeles Opportunities, Stadium, and Finance committees. The applications will be presented for consideration at next week’s league meeting in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday. The relocation of a franchise requires the affirmative vote of three-quarters of the NFL clubs (24 of 32).”