More Signs Point to a Chargers Move to LA: Sources

The Chargers drive for a new stadium fell short in the Nov. 8 election, re-energizing talk of a move to LA

The chatter continues around the Chargers' possible move to Los Angeles. As Bolts fans wait for a confirmation or even an indicator on where the team will be in 2017, those with sources in Los Angeles are sharing their insight.

A plan to move the Bolts to Los Angeles is almost a done deal, multiple sources tell our Los Angeles-sister station NBC 4's Fred Roggin.

NBC7 spoke directly to Chargers owner/chairman Dean Spanos last month just days before San Diegans voted against Measure C and the downtown stadium initiative.

At the time, Spanos said he was entirely focused on the results of the election. Since then Spanos released a statement through the teamโ€™s PR department saying a final decision on the teamโ€™s future would not be announced until after the 2016 season.

According to NBC4, many of the building blocks are in place.

The Chargers would train in Orange County and there are no plans to rebrand, sources say.

The agreement with the Chargers to lease the as-yet-to-be-built Inglewood stadium has been executed and sources say, soon to be signed. The Rams signed an agreement with the NFL before moving to Los Angeles agreeing to lease space to another team.

The Chargers drive for a new stadium to replace their aging residence fell short in the Nov. 8 election, re-energizing talk of a move to Los Angeles. The ballot initiative's failure left everything in play, including a future move to join the Rams in their new Inglewood stadium, opening in 2019, and the possibility of a more aggressive timeline that would likely mean playing at the LA Memorial Coliseum with the Rams until a new stadium is built in Inglewood.

L.A. Coliseum Commission president Mark Ridley-Thomas confirmed earlier this week that the Chargers have spoken with the commission.

"In light of the vote of the people of San Diego, it's back on the table in earnest," Ridley-Thomas told USA Today. "So the appropriate amount of due diligence continues to be done, and we will see if in fact we can strike a deal."

Also this week, Spanos and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer met to discuss the team's future in San Diego.

NBC 7โ€™s Derek Togerson recently spoke to Save Our Bolts, the fan group that works closely with the team in all stadium matters. According to Save Our Bolts leaders the team is assembling a backup plan to try and stay in San Diego. You can read the full break down here.

A move to the Coliseum would likely require a change to the stadium's lease terms, which currently allow for only one NFL team -- the Rams.

This all might sound somewhat familiar to football fans in Los Angeles, San Diego and Oakland. In January 2016, the Rams, Chargers and Raiders all appeared to be candidates for a move to LA.

NFL owners later approved the Rams' move at a meeting in Houston. A proposal to build a new stadium in Inglewood, opening in 2019, beat out a competing stadium plan in Carson, where the Chargers and Raiders planned to built a 72,000-seat stadium. The Chargers applied to relocate to LA, but that plan was rejected by league owners.

The Chargers, who have played in San Diego since 1961, were given the option of joining the Rams in the Inglewood stadium. They have until Jan. 15 to make a decision.

NFL team relocations require three-fourths approval of the member teams.

The Chargers still have four more regular season games this year. The final game of the 2016 season is on Jan. 1 at Qualcomm Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. Much like last year, fans are left to wonder if that will be final game for the Chargers in San Diego.

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