In response to a report that makes a decision by the Chargers to join the Rams in Inglewood seem imminent, the Chargers say that an agreement between Rams owner Stan Kroenke and Chargers owner Dean Spanos is not close to being reached.
“Dean’s comments from Tuesday night accurately represent the team’s position,” special counsel Mark Fabiani told PFT via email regarding the item from NFL Media that a framework is in place and, barring something unforeseen, a deal will be done. “Dean will take some time to evaluate the new options that have been created for the Chargers by the owners’ vote. No decisions have been made, and no serious review of a proposed framework for a Rams-Chargers deal has yet begun.”
The remark implies that a framework exists, but work will be needed to convert the framework into an agreement -- especially since Spanos first must decide whether to be a tenant or a partner in Inglewood’s Kroenkeworld. And whether to stay in San Diego, where the extra $100 million from the league plus the $550 million relocation fee that wouldn’t be paid can go a long way toward building a stadium.
However it happens, it needs to happen quickly. The Chargers have many employees who will want to know whether they have jobs and whether they will be putting their homes on the market and looking for new ones in Los Angeles. In a deadline-driven business, the deadline for the people affected by the uncertainty is right now.