When the Los Angeles Rams returned home to their roots in Southern California, it was with the hope that the team would trend back to their winning ways as they looked to rebuild their fan base. Now, it seems the Rams will have some company in Los Angeles as they continue to build their foundation.
Despite their efforts to remain in San Diego, Chargers owner Dean Spanos has announced the team has officially decided to relocate to Los Angeles for the 2017 NFL season:
“After much deliberation, I have made the decision to relocate the Chargers to Los Angeles, beginning with the 2017 NFL season. San Diego has been our home for 56 years. It will always be part of our identity, and my family and I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the support and passion our fans have shared with us over the years. But today, we turn the page and begin an exciting new era as the Los Angeles Chargers.”
The Chargers were originally founded by Alex Spanos in Los Angeles in 1960 before spending the next five decades in San Diego. However, rebuilding their fan base has proven to be tough, even for a Rams team that spent the better part of 50 years in Los Angeles.
Also much like the Rams, they have already received plenty of negative backlash from their former hometown as fans have begun to trash their Chargers memorabilia.
The new team is expected to play at the StubHub Center in Carson, California — the current home of the LA Galaxy. This is interesting given that the stadium only holds about 30,000 people. Once the Inglewood stadium is finished with construction in 2019, the Chargers will become the Rams co-tenants.
