APThe NFL may be having a hard time finding venues that want to serve as temporary homes for a team or multiple teams moving to Los Angeles, but that doesn’t seem to be taking any wind out of their sails on the way back to the City of Angels.
Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports that NFL owners will discuss starting a program that would allow fans to make refundable deposits toward season tickets to a team in Los Angeles at next week’s league meeting devoted to L.A. relocation. That program would begin before the end of 2015 and before the Rams, Raiders and/or Chargers have been confirmed as future residents of either of the city’s two proposed stadium projects.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times has been the key man on the NFL-to-Los Angeles beat for a while now and predicted that the league would explore this possibility in a column last month. Farmer reported that there’s “debate” within the league about charging a fee, but that they are leaning toward it “to find the fans who are truly interested” and that it would either be applied to season tickets or refunded once the plans are solidified.
No vote on a move is expected at next week’s meetings, which are designed for updates on plans to move to Los Angeles as well as efforts by San Diego, St. Louis and Oakland to keep their teams.
Nothing wrong with this, except sending a team to LA.
Interesting…buy tickets to a team that you don’t know who it is? I’m not sure how well that will go over? Maybe you’re anti-Raiders or Rams/Chargers and could care less about them. The NFL seems to be very dysfunctional these days.
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There’s a great idea. I think I’ll give my money to Roger Goodell and trust that he’ll give me something in return.
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This is starting to get absurd. The NFL is preparing to sell tickets, even though LA doesn’t have a team? Like the Rams fan is gonna buy raidette or Charger tickets?
The NFL has lost its mind.
I know, you know, PFT knows that #nobodyhasitbetterthanus
The raw greed of the league is beyond disgusting.
“Hey LA chumps, give us a bunch of money to support no idea which team if the move there, which we’ll grudgingly give back 2-3 years fromnow if we can’tget a team there. In the meantime we’ll use your money to help bribe the lical politicians for a free billion dolkar stadium.”
That’s what I read in this
Won’t be difficult! The following LA teams have a waiting list for season tickets:
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Kings
Does anyone really think an NFL team of all things would struggle to sell tickets in LA?
Think again.
Stupid
This idea obviously wouldn’t fly in Toronto. They had the Bills once a year and stayed away in massive numbers.
The Colts should move there in the middle of the night. Andrew Luck could co-own LA with Clay Kershaw.
If it happens, it should be a 40,000 seat stadium with design plans capable of expansion if needed. Tickets have already outpriced the very little expendable income crowd, so no reason to put in upper level seats that will be grossly over priced when the viewing experience at home is better and more affordable. There will be plenty of luxury seating available which will be bought up by every major company. Try something different and build a home field advantage. Plus premium seating does not fall into the revenue sharing category, that is all for the team.
1. L.A. Raiders 2 L.A. Chargers 3. Las Vegas Rams
The NFL will be giving Tom Brady the league’s 33rd franchise as compensation for character assassination, damages, defamation.
The conversation in Goodell’s office probably went something like this:
– we’re in trouble guys, almost every stadium in the LA area has turned us down
– So why don’t we just sell tickets anyway?
– Brilliant!!
How can the league have its sights set on LA with deflategate happening ?
Reading as to why the owners picked Goodall in 2006, it seems that his time as tagliabeaus luitenent was an act. He was a yes man the whole time
Back when the Raiders and Rams were in LA they played in terrible stadiums. Almost every NFL team was getting a new (and in some cases 2nd) stadium since the Raiders/Rams had been in LA. The owners pushed the city for new stadiums. The City refused. The owners knew the NFL would never let a successful team making big money move, so the 2 owners made the decision to strip down the teams to bare bones and suck so fans wouldn’t want to see them. With bad teams and low attendance, it made it easy to move.
The Dodgers had a 20 year playoff drought, the Clippers were awful until lately, and the Kings never won anything until a couple years ago. The last place Lakers are still supported, and have a 3 year wait for season tickets. All of them were supported during bad times… The LA “only supports a winner” is a myth.
Cities with failed NFL franchises who now have teams again:
Cleveland Bulldogs, Rams, Browns
Boston Redskins
Chicago Cardinals
Dallas Texans
Oakland Raiders
Baltimore Colts
St Louis Cardinals
Houston Oilers
The Rams were in Los Angeles for 48 years. That is longer than 8 current franchises have existed.
smh the greedyness of this league never ceases to amaze me.
This really shows you what the owners think about NFL fans.
No team?
No venue?
No problem
The NFL will be giving Tom Brady the league’s 33rd franchise as compensation for character assassination, damages, defamation.
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Pats fans have been singing this tune since the cheating came to light yet things have turned out to be different, haven’t they?
no city deserves 3x NFL teams, much less LA.
If you want to know how intelligent of a system this is, just look at what’s happened in the video game industry with preordering video games not even released yet.
-Game come out broken
-Games not living up to what was sold
-Promises not delivered upon
-Dates changing for release
This is the future the NFL wants to go in, it’s a system that’s full of let downs and failures that will never effect the NFL because they’ll already have your money.
If anything will bring the downfall of the NFL, this is the beginning of the end.
It’s a trap!
In other words, these dummies want to gauge fan interest by selling tickets before it has been officially announced that a team (or which team) will move there. In other words, they want to use the fans as guinea pigs so that they will have time to adjust their strategy (and reduce their financial risk and burden by using your non-taxed “loan” to them) before fully committing.
The progress made in Saint Louis to get a new stadium is nearly unprecedented. A design, a financing plan, land acquisition, and market surveys have all been completed in less than 8 months. Really the only thing needed to get going is for Silent Stan to approve. I know the LA folks want the Rams, but with all that Saint Louis has done to keep them, it would be a real shame for the NFL to let them go…
no city deserves 3x NFL teams, much less LA.
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Did you mean state? And yes, Florida has three teams, California has 3, and New York has 3
I went to an L.A. Raiders game when I was 12 years old. They played the Chiefs when Joe Montana was on the team (I don’t remember the year). Honestly one of the worst experiences of my life.
So fans in a market that has survived just fine without football for 20 years will stand in line to pony up cash with no guarantee of a team? How clueless are these guys?
Did you mean state? And yes, Florida has three teams, California has 3, and New York has 3
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Technically New York has 1 (Bills) and New Jersey has 2. I think the op was assuming that all teams (Chargers, Rams, Raiders) would move to L.A.
At least they’re not letting their greed get the best of them. Nothing but clear thinking here.
We call that fraud
numbr4stuna says:
Aug 6, 2015 4:57 PM
The progress made in Saint Louis to get a new stadium is nearly unprecedented. A design, a financing plan, land acquisition, and market surveys have all been completed in less than 8 months. Really the only thing needed to get going is for Silent Stan to approve. I know the LA folks want the Rams, but with all that Saint Louis has done to keep them, it would be a real shame for the NFL to let them go…
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That’s exactly what Stan has done in Los Angeles!
He has the land, the financing and surveys of surveys. He’s taking his ball and doing what he wants to do no matter what the fans in Saint Louis want or try. It’s exactly how the Rams came to Saint Louis in the first place.
In other words, they are selling tickets to the scalpers (because they have no team allegiance).
With the Chargers doing everything they can to ignore San Diego and move to LA, there was no reason for me to renew my season tickets this summer. Why should I continue to support a team and give them my money when it’s clear they don’t care about the fans or sticking around? It sounds selfish on my behalf but abandoning your fans and home for money is just as selfish.
How much you want to bet that part of that will include a small-by-comparison “nonrefundable service charge” that will net an owner or the league an extra seven figures? For example, if you’re willing to throw down a $5k deposit for season tickets, a $100 nonrefundable service charge won’t necessarily change your mind. Multiply that times 60,000, and we’ve got a $6 million profit out of nowhere!
A interest free loan for the NFL.
If you get anything in return for parking your money for free with the NFL it will be like “Lets Make a Deal”.
You’ll get what’s behind door #1, door #2, or door #3… except you won’t choose what door gets selected.
Well at least it would be refundable… though how long you will have to wait, and whether or not you get to after any teams are announced is still unclear.
Actually the convo in the NFL office went something like this:
We’re looking pretty stupid here with the Brady case.
I know lets distract people by starting the sale of tickets in LA.
Wait, do we have a franchise in LA yet?
Yawn.
Unless someone lives in LA, San Diego, Oakland, and St. Louis, I don’t see why they would care if a team moves to LA or not.
I also don’t understand why anyone would take any sports team’s or sports league’s threats to relocate seriously until there was a confirmed deal on the table with a permanent stadium, etc. Otherwise, it’s all just a bluffing game between the teams, leagues, and cities.
I thought all their fake surveys showed huge demand in LA. This is nothing more than an experiment to see what the real interest is. Shocker the NFL cant even do a legitimate survey and trust its own results.
O by the way, people have to give up money for the NFLs fishing expedition. If anyone gives the NFL their money then they are stupid.
Buying tickets to a ghost team is almost as bad as buying fake stock for ones favorite team!
Long ago, the NFL did this to expansion markets like Memphis. “Sell enough tickets and we’ll see about getting you that new team.” It’s a joke.
The NFL front office should consult with FIFA on this and other matters. They seem to have a lot in common.
NFL: We are going to need you to put down a deposit for the new Madden. I mean, it could be Madden, or it might be FIFA…. or it might be a bumper sticker, depending.”
Hah! Does it surprise anyone that Goodell would sell tickets before everything is settled?! Isn’t that racketeering?
Anyone that forks over money to the NFL “hoping” to land a team is an idiot. The NFL is definitely taking full advantage that there is a sucker born every minute
Farmer reported that there’s “debate” within the league about charging a fee, but that they are leaning toward it “to find the fans who are truly interested”
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“Truly Interested” and “L.A. Football Fan” are mutually exclusive statements.
If any of them were truly interested, L.A. wouldn’t have already chased off three NFL teams.
Not a big deal until they start selling playoff tickets too…
The Rams are back in LA. The Radiers and Chargers are staying put. Watch it!
You want to talk about giving information to support an agenda.
It’s like the teacher in that movie ‘the hangover’ taking the kids’ fieldtrip cash. Funny, but not. Don’t fall for the NFL’s cronyism, L.A.; because if it ever gets to the point of getting your money back, how willingly will the city(in debt), county(in debt), and NFL(cronies) want to reimburse it back in cold hard cash and not try and give you a month of a city transit pass(or something along those lines, no pun intended). Think about it, it could happen.
If I knew it would be the Chargers or Rams moving there I would go for this. But buy tickets in advance only to find out later they are for the Raiders?? Heck no!
L.A. on’t even want a team in L.A. Stop forcing it down their throats Goodell. Get this Brady suspension done then FIRE GOODELL ALREADY!!!
Seems like a risky move on the part of the NFL
It’s gotta be the Rams and one more. Hopefully they go back to the uniforms as well.
Let the Chargers or Raiders rent space from Kroenke’s stadium .
It’s so disgusting how the NFL caters and enables a city that has shown they can’t keep a team in town. Let the city do the work to show they want and can support a team instead of babysitting them. This is a joke and can be compared to an unnecessary Govt. entitlement program. Help out San Antonio that really wants and has proven the city & private sector will work it out the right way.
The NFL selling seats that don’t exist? No way….
Regards,
Super Bowl 45 attendees at Cowboys Stadium
L.A. Raiders – done deal, take that to the bank!
I believe the NFL is about to find out what most fans already know. Los Angles does not want nor need the NFL. S an Diego is about to get rid of the NFL. St Louis is not crazy about the NFL. Toronto does not want the NFL nor does the rest of Canada and Goodell is delusional about London wanting the NFL. Less and less people are buying tickets and advertisers are demanding lower rates because the product is becomming saturated. Sunday’s , Monday’s ,Thursday’s and Saturdays later in season . Goodell wants to add two additional games per year and Jerry Jones wants more teams to make the playoffs. By the time The middle of January rolls around more and more fans are sick of the NFL. Prima Donna players over inflated egos under inflated footballs owners sueing ,players suspended , players sueing, one hour games taking three plus hours, advertisements after every score, kickoff, punt, three talking heads telling you what you just watched and how great a normal catch or tackle was. No thanks.
firerogergoodell says:
Aug 6, 2015 4:38 PM
Won’t be difficult! The following LA teams have a waiting list for season tickets:
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Kings
Does anyone really think an NFL team of all things would struggle to sell tickets in LA?
Think again.
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1980…
The 11-5 Rams attendance is 62,550 playing in a stadium that held 69,008.
The only NFL team in town and had been there since 1946.What did they do in 1979… their last year in the Coliseum ?
59,000 vs Raiders.
69,497 vs. Tampa.
64,462 vs. Dallas.
64,245 vs. San Diego.
43,376 vs. NYG.
51,483 vs. Chicago.
53,879 vs. New Orleans.
A stadium that holds 94,000 with 30,000.. 40,000 even 50,000 empty seats with no other NFL team in town and no college team playing on Sunday.
1982…
L.A. Rams Average Attendance: 49,690.
L.A. Raiders Average Attendance: 46,285.
Both NFL teams below both USC and UCLA in attendance.
1989, enough time for the Raiders to build a fan-base in L.A.
L.A. Rams Average Attendance: 42,312.
L.A. Raiders Average Attendance: 51,196.
Once again both NFL teams below both USC and UCLA in attendance.
Ticket agencies will buy them all up then sell them at crazy prices to all the posers in this time.
BRING BACK THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS
SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS OF 1983 AND THE FUTURE
CONSIDER IT A PURCHASE. I’LL BE FIRST IN LINE. {{-_-}}
thereyougo2
I agree with “some” of your post, but I disagree with your analysis of “saturation”. This country is football crazy. The NFL creates a varied schedule so games are played on various weeknights and almost all day on Sundays. Fans eat it up and marketing proves that. As long as the fans continue to eat it up, they will continue to serve it up for them. I’m surprised they haven’t stepped on H.S. ball and put regular season games on Friday night and Saturdays during the H.S. season. I’m thankful they’ve respected that.
If Canada wants an NFL team, I’m OK with that. But this London baloney is totally B.S. And I’ve heard players state the fact they wouldn’t be too thrilled about having to be based in England either.
But I thought it was suppose to be all about integrity.
I get paid next fri.I will send all of my paycheck to the nfl.Hell,i don’t even care if we ever get a team in los angeles…I just want Rog to have more $$$.
This makes sense. Aren’t Goodell and his minions Scientologists? They fit right in in LA.
Master Stan never said he was moving the Rams to L.A.
Plus the stadium he wanted in St Louis is going to be built, he cant move by NFL Rules.
There is only one choice: The Los Angeles Rams. That is where that team belongs.
For all you youngun’s look up “Fearsome Foursome”.
Just because the NFL hasn’t had a team in LA for 20 years doesn’t mean that football fans in the area don’t have favorite teams already.
As others have said, Oakland and Bolt fans aren’t interchangeable. Many people probably still hate the Rams for moving in the first place – which is now how many in St. Louis feel after giving the Rams a new stadium 20 years ago only to now have to play the same game again.
Sure, they’ll get some people to commit – those with more money than sense.
What a joke.
To quote Vince Lombardi”What the hell is going on out there?”