At least for now, the Chargers will remain the San Diego Chargers after the NFL owner’s meetings in Houston Tuesday night granted the right to move to Los Angeles to the Rams.
The Chargers were also approved to move with the Rams to the Inglewood site chosen by the owners as the preferred stadium plan any time within the next year. However, the Chargers were given a $100 million incentive to get things figured out in San Diego in the meantime.
Negotiations between the Chargers and San Diego have been contentious for some time with discussions between the two sides ceasing last summer. However, the added incentive to Chargers owner Dean Spanos could once again spark talks between the two sides.
As long as the negotiations are in “good faith,” San Diego says they’re open to the chance to get back to the table.
“Today NFL owners rejected the Chargers’ bid to move to Carson If Mr. Spanos has a sincere interest in reaching a fair agreement in San Diego, we remain committed to negotiating in good faith. We are not interested in a charade by the Chargers if they continue to pursue Los Angeles,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer and county supervisor Ron Roberts in a statement.
Spanos said he will now consider the options available to the Chargers.
“I will be working over the next several weeks to explore the options that we have now created for ourselves to determine the best path forward for the Chargers,” he said in a statement.
The Chargers may still move to Inglewood to join the Rams, but the door is now open on the possibility of the Chargers remaining in San Diego for the long-term.