With the Chargers and Raiders planning to share a privately-financed stadium in Carson, California, here’s a crazy question: Why not share a stadium in San Diego?
Appearing on Monday’s edition of PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio, Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani said that he’s been asked that question a lot in recent days, but that the Chargers and Raiders don’t regard that as a viable option. The problem, as Fabiani explained it, is that the market isn’t big enough to support the kind of revenue streams (via luxury suites and Personal Seat Licenses) for a pair of franchises.
That sounds reasonable, but the Chargers already have 25 percent of their fan base coming from Los Angeles County and Orange County. With a swanky new stadium in San Diego and both the Chargers and Raiders playing there, maybe more would make the drive south.
The bigger problem would be the lingering vacancy in Los Angeles, which possibly would be filled by the Rams. Which would put three teams in the L.A./San Diego area.
But if the Chargers get a new stadium in San Diego, there’s a good chance that the Rams (and maybe the Raiders) will relocate to Los Angeles. Which perhaps makes the Chargers far more interested in limiting the total number of franchise in the region to two, with the Chargers and another franchise sharing space in Los Angeles.
To hear Fabiani’s full interview, click here, select PFT Live, and pick hour two.