The “if you build it, I will run it” agreement of Disney CEO Bob Iger to run the stadium project in Carson gives the Raiders and Chargers a significant bump in their effort to win the race to L.A.
Iger is a favorite of league owners, due in part to Disney’s ownership of a four-letter network that gives the league $2 billion per year. But the NFL also likes Iger the businessman; he previously served as one of the featured speakers at the annual league meetings.
Also, there’s Iger with Commissioner Roger Goodell ant Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the annual Sun Valley conference for various billionaires and captains of industry.
Iger’s business acumen bolsters the Raiders-Chargers project considerably. Currently, the league is concerned that putting two teams in L.A. will make it hard for both to thrive. Iger’s involvement would alleviate those concerns -- especially if he becomes a minority owner of the Raiders.
As one league source put it, having Iger work with Raiders owner Mark Davis would make the league more comfortable with the idea of letting Davis move.
That still may not be enough. As Peter King of TheMMQB.com said on NBC’s Football Night in America, a majority of NFL owners would prefer that only one team move to L.A.
So it ultimately could be the Chargers -- and only the Chargers -- in Carson. Or it could be the Rams -- and only the Rams -- in Inglewood.
More on the potential tug of war between the Chargers and Rams to come.
