Chargers make it official, announce move to Los Angeles

by | Jan 19, 2017 | News, Uncategorized |

Well, it’s official. Chargers’ owner Dean Spanos announced on Thursday, January 12, that the Bolts will be packing their bags and moving to Los Angeles. I took to Twitter to share my immediate reaction.

I had the opportunity to sit down with John Spanos, Chargers’ President of Football Operations and son of owner Dean Spanos, for this week’s “The Business of Sports” podcast to talk all things about the team’s relocation.

On the Chargers’ move to L.A., Spanos says, “I know it wasn’t an easy decision, certainly a lot of emotions around it. You look at the opportunity now to finally gain direction, and the opportunity to enter a really special market. It’s a once-in-a-generation type of opportunity.”

The move has left many San Diego fans in despair, and although Spanos understands their disappointment, he assures me that he has the upmost respect for them saying, “I have nothing bad to say about the fans of San Diego. The fans have been great. I’m for all Charger fans, no matter where they live. I run into Charger fans everywhere.”

As far as next steps go, Spanos know that it will be an uphill battle: “We know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, obviously. Our whole approach with this is, in L.A., it’s a special place, it’s a powerful place, but nothing is given to you. Everything that you get has to be earned … We’re excited about this next chapter. We’re excited about the move. We’re excited about entering the new market and building a fan base.”

Listen to our full conversation here for further insight on the move as well as Spanos’s take on their new stadium, the coaching change and, of course, the logo fiasco.

This is now the second relocation of a franchise in two years, and there could be more in the works (see: Raiders to Las Vegas). The whirlwind of the move has left many Chargers fans (living in San Diego, that is) asking questions. Was it ticket sales? Why couldn’t a new stadium deal be renegotiated? I debunked the top-five relocation myths in this week’s column for The MMQB.

I sympathize with the San Diego fans, as I did with those in St. Louis one year ago. For my expanded thoughts on the Chargers’ move and its effect on their fans, check out last week’s initial reaction and analysis for The MMQB. Now that the move is official, the real test will come when the team takes the field. Let’s see how it all plays out.