Will Los Angeles Get An NFL Franchise Anytime Soon?

[Fangz]

I live in New York but I have to say as a huge NFL fan it's downright embarrassing not to have a representative in the second largest media outlet in this country Los Angeles! I mean I don't really like the whole movie star LA 'tude but they have every other sport but the NFL and those teams do quite well. Will the City Of Angels ever get an NFL team especially with that new stadium being ready for 2010 when the current labor agreement ends with the NFL? I've heard that the Jaguars would love to move in that new stadium being built but there could be other teams that would jump at the chance. Goodell already said there will be no expansion team in 2010 but any team is free to relocate, who will it be if anyone?

 

[Cy/MiG]

Nope.

Too many 'transplants'.

In theory, LA should be a GREAT football town.

But I don't think it can be; for far too many reasons.

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

It's really not a very good sports town...but if you want to take the Detroit Lions, be my guest 🙂

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

it is next on the list. 2nd biggest city in the country not having a team is a black-eye for the NFL

 

[ThatPercussionGuy]

Well, they did have 2 teams there and couldn't support it...so it's not like it has never been tried.

 

[Fangz]

Well, they did have 2 teams there and couldn't support it...so it's not like it has never been tried.

Maybe times have changed! It's not like the Dodgers, Angels, Lakers and Kings are in financial trouble. They're all flourishing. From what I hear there are a lot of NFL fans in LA wearing jerseys of just about every team so having a team of there own would make financial sense in every way IMO. I think that the Jaguars are gonna be the team to move because the city of Jacksonville can't seem to get behind them and the lure of all that media attention plus that new state of the art stadium will draw the Jags like the Pied Piper.

 

[Cy/MiG]

LA has the money to pump into a team/stadium, but they don't really have the fanbase.

Too many people who live there are from across the US and have loyalties to their hometeams.

Many people who grew up there were alienated from the Raiders/Rams debacles or have gravitated toward the success of their college programs (USC/UCLA) instead (or again, other pro teams due to not having a 'hometeam').

Then throw in that LA is mostly considered a 'rich' town (yes, I know about the poorer areas, but...) how many people would CONSISTENTLY attend an NFL game in LA?

More importantly:

How many home-fans would CONSISTENTLY attend and support their team?

The stadium would either have too many suite/club seats or would be mostly occupied by fans from the other team.

That is why eventually an LA team would fail, IMO.

 

[Fangz]

LA has the money to pump into a team/stadium, but they don't really have the fanbase.

Too many people who live there are from across the US and have loyalties to their hometeams.

Many people who grew up there were alienated from the Raiders/Rams debacles or have gravitated toward the success of their college programs (USC/UCLA) instead (or again, other pro teams due to not having a 'hometeam').

Then throw in that LA is mostly considered a 'rich' town (yes, I know about the poorer areas, but...) how many people would CONSISTENTLY attend an NFL game in LA?

More importantly:

How many home-fans would CONSISTENTLY attend and support their team?

The stadium would either have too many suite/club seats or would be mostly occupied by fans from the other team.

That is why eventually an LA team would fail, IMO.

But Mig then how come the Dodgers do so well in their stadium? And they have far more than 8 home games to sell out. 🙂

 

[Cy/MiG]

But Mig then how come the Dodgers do so well in their stadium? And they have far more than 8 home games to sell out. 🙂

Because the Dodgers have been playing in LA for how long???

A NEW (football) team to LA would take YEARS to catch on, IMO.

There's just isn't enough of a solid fanbase.

Again, too many transplants.

And see my other point:

EVEN IF THE LA FOOTBALL TEAM SOLD OUT THEIR GAMES, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FANS OF THE ROAD TEAM (or not fans of the LA whatevers.)

 

[gluestick]

Since the NFL is all about money then there's no way LA remains without a team. And you know what team will relocate there?

The Buffalo Bills.

The average ticket price in big NFL markets (ie boston and dallas) easily top $100 while ticket prices in Buffalo are consistently the cheapest in the league ($51 average) due to the anemic economy. Ticket prices could easily be doubled in a city like LA. The Bills are already being *****d out to Toronto, a not so subtle indication that the waters are being tested for relocation. Also, the Bills owner is 90 years old and plans on having his estate sell the team after he kicks the bucket.

I f-ing HATE the idea, but the writing's on the wall...LA Bills in 5 years.

 

[Fangz]

I f-ing HATE the idea, but the writing's on the wall...LA Bills in 5 years.

The funny thing is that New York would be without a football team too in 5 years by rights unless they start calling the Giants or Jets the New York So and So of New Jersey like that ridiculous job that they did for baseball's Angels!

 

[primetime]

It's hysterical reading the responses about this thread. Since I live in Southern California, let me tell you that bringing a team to LA would do wonders for the city. Personally I would rather see a "new" team, but the NFL probably won't grant an expansion team, so we would get a team to relocate. I hope it is the Jaguars since they have a solid team (despite this year) and would fit in LA.

I see responses in this thread that most of the fans would be fans of other teams. Man, people got the wrong idea about LA. Let's take a look at the Clippers of the NBA. They suck, they will always suck, they will never win a title, but do you think most of the fans that show up are fans of other teams? Sure, they show up, but the crowd is still majority Clipper fans. I know, hard to explain. But do not believe for one second that this city will not rally around a LA team. After getting jilted by Georgia Frontiere and Al Davis, most LA fans would love to have a team. Those of you who think otherwise need to take off your anti-LA glasses and stereotypes.

The problem is, if the team does NOT win, fans will not show up. I know, this is a "typical" LA thing, but if you look around all professional sports in the U.S. and Canada, that same thing happens. Do you think the most horrible teams sellout their games? NO. But yet, LA fans are called "bandwagoners". Also, most LA citizens do not want to pay for the new team, that's why there is a delay.

I hate to break it to you, but when a LA team is winning, you will never find more passionate fans. In LA, you have to WIN. We have so much crap we can do than watch a team lose. Once we win, oh man, you will never see so much passion and enthusiasm, more than any other city. A great example is the 1993 LA Kings hockey team. Believe me, NO ONE CARED about the Kings for years. But when they made the Stanley Cup finals, the entire city was energized. I have never witnessed a phenomenon like that. You saw the Dodgers playoff games this past season and man, that crowd was electric. Same with the Laker games. LA fans truly have the most energetic passion, but it only comes in droves when the teams are WINNING. Then again, this happens in most cities.....

Don't get it twisted. We lost the Rams because Frontiere screwed us (she pulled a move like the movie in Major League). Then Al Davis is well.....Al Davis. You can't fault LA for his warped plans. We didn't lose two teams because of the fans. We lost two teams because two owners are just pure evil.

 

[jaba]

LA sports fans have too many other entertainment options, and after Raider owner AL Davis 10 million dollar robbery of the local city of Irwindale, L A thus far has had enough citizen voters who are not idiots and who refuse to subsidize a football facility or a football team for the NFL with city tax dollars. The senior citizens of Pasadena beat the NFL away from the Rose Bowl facility with their walkers and canes. 😛

Our USC Trojans sell out the Los Angeles Coliseum to the tune of nearly 90 thousand fans each home game. Who needs the NFL and their demands and headaches when you can go to Venice beach with your buddies on Sunday and watch bikini ladies roller blade, and watch any NFL game at a beach sports bar on widescreen in an outdoor patio in late November?

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Since the NFL is all about money then there's no way LA remains without a team. And you know what team will relocate there?

The Buffalo Bills.

The average ticket price in big NFL markets (ie boston and dallas) easily top $100 while ticket prices in Buffalo are consistently the cheapest in the league ($51 average) due to the anemic economy. Ticket prices could easily be doubled in a city like LA. The Bills are already being *****d out to Toronto, a not so subtle indication that the waters are being tested for relocation. Also, the Bills owner is 90 years old and plans on having his estate sell the team after he kicks the bucket.

I f-ing HATE the idea, but the writing's on the wall...LA Bills in 5 years.

Yep. Hate to say it , but gluestick is probably right about this.

It's been the talk around here for quite some time , now , that L.A. is the possible destination for the Bills once Ralph Wilson passes away.

Though , w/the way this season has gone for us , that might not necessarily be a bad thing.


Okay , I'm joking 'bout that.




Alright , half joking.




Anyway , it's funny that you should bring up the Clippers , primetime. Once upon a time , they used to be known as the Buffalo Braves.

Hope you end up enjoying my sports teams as much as I used to , bud. Though , I suppose they'll have to win in order for you to do so . 😛

 

[Dave2112]

I have to agree with Primetime at least as far as fan attitude goes. Although I am a Northern New Yorker praying that we keep our one TRUE New York team, I lived in Los Angeles during the LA Raiders years. My brother-in-law, his friends and I used to go to the home games...

...and you did NOT want to be a fan of another team in that stadium. It was one of the worst places for fans of a visiting team.

If the Bills did move, they wouldn't even retain the name. What the hell sense does "Los Angeles Bills" make? Then again, why have a basketball team called the "Lakers" in an area with no lakes?

I do know that Ziggy Wilf has mentioned a possible move of the Vikings to LA, but thankfully, that hasn't been talked about in some time. I do NOT want to see my team in LA. Minnesota already lost a hockey team to Texas. Hopefully, the Vikes will at least win the NFC North this year and get that fan base excited again. Then again, this is late December...just about time for the Vikings to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I would love to see a team in LA, but an expansion team is probably out of the question. The NFL is quite happy with a nice round number set...four teams each in four divisions in each conference. An expansion would monkey-wrench all of that just like we had with that six-team AFC Central we used to have. Someone will have to move, and it would most likely be Jax. Of course, the Vikes are still a possibility, as are the Bills. And.... know I'll get a laugh for this one, but don't be surprised to see a KC move, either.

 

[punkrockergirl]

before california gets a fourth team which i think is rediculous.. i dont think any state needs more than 2 and i dont think a lot of the states with 2 need 2... i think the place that is most deserving of a team is oklahoma, they are crazy about football there and texas and oklahoma hate each other so im sure it would be an instant rivarly with the cowboys and a good rivarly is always great to watch

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

before california gets a fourth team which i think is rediculous.. i dont think any state needs more than 2 and i dont think a lot of the states with 2 need 2... i think the place that is most deserving of a team is oklahoma, they are crazy about football there and texas and oklahoma hate each other so im sure it would be an instant rivarly with the cowboys and a good rivarly is always great to watch

A team in Oklahoma would NEVER happen. Most folks there are Big Cowboys fans and Mr. Jones would never let that happen.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

Putting a team in Oklahoma wouldn't be a bad idea. I think two teams will need to relocate so there would be room for a L.A. team and a Oklahoma team.

 

[punkrockergirl]

jones would only be one vote and they arent cowboy fans there they hate them.. and oklahoma would support a team more than la would

 

[gluestick]

jones would only be one vote and they arent cowboy fans there they hate them.. and oklahoma would support a team more than la would

Remember though, its not an issue of Support...its about MONEY. How much could the NFL get away with charging fans in Oklahoma? In Buffalo the Bills have TONS of support and constantly sell out a fairly large stadium of 71,000. The lack of corporate sponsorship in Buffalo however means few luxury suites and the lowest average ticket prices in the NFL at $51. Oklahoma would surely be able to fill a stadium but will the NFL be able to charge an average $90 ticket there? I think the league would rather put a second franchise in one of the big cities rather than go for another small market. Sadly, its all about cash, not fan loyalty.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

jones would only be one vote and they arent cowboy fans there they hate them.. and oklahoma would support a team more than la would

Jones has way more influence than even a normal owner. Ther are tons of Cowboys fans that live in Oklahoma.

 

[Cy/MiG]

before california gets a fourth team which i think is rediculous.. i dont think any state needs more than 2 and i dont think a lot of the states with 2 need 2... i think the place that is most deserving of a team is oklahoma, they are crazy about football there and texas and oklahoma hate each other so im sure it would be an instant rivarly with the cowboys and a good rivarly is always great to watch

Yeah, Oklahoma has already shown they know how to STEAL a franchise; so they have that going for them.

Perhaps Clay Bennett will buy the Bills...?

That would be the ultimate omen.

Of course, there's no David Stern in the NFL to collude with him.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Sadly, its all about cash, not fan loyalty.

Once again , gluestick is exactly right.

The Bill haven't made the playoffs since the 1999 season. Yet , despite a decade's worth of failure , each & every home game sells out. That stadium is filled to capacity w/rabid fans every game & Buffalo Bills merchandise is aplenty 'round here. So , if ( when ) the Bills are moved , it won't be a question of fan support , it'll be because the stadium is "outdated" & the lack of big corporate money in this area.

The NFL is no longer a league that cares about its fans , it's all about making money. That is all! If people think that showing support for a team by attending games makes a difference ... they're kidding themselves. If the NFL can make more money w/that same franchise somewhere else , then the league has no problem in screwing over the fans who've supported ... & continue to support ... that franchise by relocating it.

As far as the NFL moving a team to Oklahoma ... I highly doubt that. Now , I gather that people in Oklahoma are passionate about their football , but isn't it more of a college football area? I don't know about the economics of the region or how close it actually is to Dallas , but I suspect the NFL doesn't want to risk moving a professional team to another big time college football city/region. They're finding out now w/Jacksonville that that's a costly mistake.

 

[punkrockergirl]

you guys r taking my comment to seriosuly i was just expressing that instead of sending a another team to california was stupid, LA obviously wont support a team, ofcourse i dont expect a football franchise in oklahoma at least not any time soon, but i mean give a team to someone without one.. maybe like las vegas would be a bit more realistic

 

[slacker2114]

Y'know who should get a football team? Alaska. You can laugh, but Lambeau Field would have nothing on a December game there. Now THAT would be football. Screw LA.