Stadium Watch: Relocation guidelines

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SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Expectations are that the NFL owners will make some significant decisions at their next meeting in Houston January 12th and 13th.

The key for teams wanting to move hinges on whether they meet the league’s relocation guidelines.

And let’s not forget the guidelines also state that the home cities can prevent a team from relocating if they submit viable stadium plans that are actionable with certainty.

Stadium plans have to be in the hands of the league by December 30th.

On January 4th, teams can file written applications to the NFL to relocate and the Chargers, Raiders and Rams will file.

The owners will have all the information they need to make their decisions.

There’s no indication San Diego’s stadium plan meets the guidelines to prevent the Chargers from leaving. It never had the support from the team or the league.

"We’ve been very clear about our offer, we’ve been clear about all the steps that we’ve taken," said Mayor Faulconer.

Several deadlines were missed putting San Diego’s plan outside the NFL’s timeline where everything is locked up by year’s end. Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged this in early December.

"In San Diego those things are not possible, as you know, would that be a fair statement by the end of the year? Ans: it certainly appears that’s the case," Goodell said.

Here are some of the important relocation guidelines:

  • A club’s primary obligation to the league and to other member clubs is to advance the interested of the league in its home territory.
  • No club has an entitlement to relocation simply because it perceives an opportunity for enhanced club revenues in another location.

Dean Spanos has said San Diego’s plan has too may uncertainties and another team in L.A. would threaten his franchise at home.

The guidelines also include:

  • The club’s financial prospects in its current location
  • has the club reached a stalemate in negotiations?
  • The league’s interest in having club’s in the country’s most populous areas

Several owners want these guidelines enforced.

Between January 4th and the owners meeting on the 12th, various committees will evaluate the stadium plans and relocations applications.

Right now, it appears neither the Chargers nor the Rams have enough to votes to move, yet both have the votes to block each other from moving.

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