Dean

Spanos

This was originally brought up in early April, with Dean Spanos at the time releasing a statement with his two other siblings that said: “For the three of us, the Chargers is one of our family’s most important legacies, just as it was for our parents. Unfortunately, our sister Dea seems to have a different and misguided personal agenda.” The Chargers owners have frequently had financial issues as compared to most other NFL owners. This lawsuit could be a legitimate threat to unseat Spanos, which would put the future of the Chargers in some question. Berberian is seeking sole control of the Chargers in the lawsuit.

Dea Spanos Berberian, who actually owns as much of the team as Dean, alleges that the family trust’s debts and expenses “exceed $353 million,” and that “the trust doesn’t have a plan to pay more than $22 million it has pledged to charities.” Owners of the team since 1984, the Spanos family has encountered frequent financial difficulties, at least by the standards of NFL owners. Dean and two other siblings issued a statement saying they have no plans to sell. “For the three of us, the Chargers is one of our family’s most important legacies, just as it was for our parents. Unfortunately, our sister Dea seems to have a different and misguided personal agenda.” Obviously we have not heard the last of this.

The “complex land deal” gives the teams the rights to 170 acres. The land would technically be owned by the city, but leased to a stadium authority. It’s the same model the 49ers used in Santa Clara. Although the Bolts and Raiders continue to make progress in Los Angeles, they are not as far along as Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

“There are two things we need in California: rain and football,” said Carson Mayor Albert Robles. “And football is coming to Carson.” The unanimous vote allows the project to skip the environmental review process just as Stan Kroenke’s Inglewood project was able to do earlier this spring. It appears the Rams and Chargers-Raiders are in a race to see who can get their stadium built first.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos has been working with Raiders owner Mark Davis on a project in Carson, but the other owners are pushing him towards partnering with Rams owner Stan Kroenke on a stadium deal in Inglewood. Spanos and Kroenke have a rocky history, but Spanos seemed reluctantly open to the idea this week. With the owners meeting in Houston to discuss the future of all three organizations, it is possible a decision is made as early as Tuesday.

It’s big news, but also far from final. The committee comprises just 6-of-32 owners, while multiple reports say there’s still momentum for Kroenke’s project, and partnering the Rams’ owner with Spanos. The committee’s recommendation is just that. It is not intended to be final say. News should flow out of the Houston meetings all day Tuesday.

Translation: Spanos is finally open to partnering with Rams owner Stan Kroenke in Inglewood. Spanos has gone to great lengths to emphasize his partnership with Davis, so any deal with Kroenke would undoubtedly include spoils for Davis. Spanos’ willingness to partner with Kroenke – who has done him wrong in the past — could be the final nail in the coffin of professional football in St. Louis.

“To me, yes,” Goodman said when asked if the Chargers were a possibility. “I know they’re absolutely looking to move.” It’s not exactly a concrete declaration. Goodman seems to be reading the tea leaves more than relaying information based on actual talks. Aside from Goodman, there’s been nothing connecting the Bolts to Sin City.

Trotter reports that this is not the case for the Raiders in Oakland, and that the league is working to “clear a path” for a Silver and Black move. The Raiders seem hellbent on leaving town, while the Chargers have been much more lukewarm on the prospect.

“There is no substance whatsoever to this report,” the league said in an uncredited statement. “No consideration has been given to the Chargers playing anywhere other than Los Angeles.” The strongly-worded letter dragged on a bit after that. The fact that these statements are necessary at all tells you all you need to know about the Chargers’ viability in Los Angeles. Bolts players keep complaining about having to play 16 road games. L.A. simply isn’t a two-team market after two decades of enjoying the Red Zone channel. It’s looking increasingly likely the Chargers will have to make another move at some point, though London isn’t realistic.