City Council of Los Angeles Approves New 72,000-seat Stadium. Is A NFL Team Next?

The Hollywood sign might soon contain an NFL logo. On September 28, 2012, the Los Angeles city council unanimously showed support in building a 72,000 seat stadium. The downtown stadium would be built in an effort to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles, the United States’ second largest market.  The construction of the downtown stadium would create jobs, as well as give a financial boost to a city not immune to the difficulties the American economy currently faces.

It makes perfect sense to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles, a city that has not owned a team since 1994, when the city was home to both the Los Angeles Raiders and Los Angeles Rams.  Los Angeles does not have a rich tradition of championship success, with the Raiders bringing the city its only Super Bowl title after the 1983 season under the reign of late Raiders’ owner Al Davis (pictured, above).

If the NFL decides to award an NFL team to Los Angeles, the next question is would the city get an expansion team? Or would it obtain a team via relocation? The Jacksonville Jaguars would be a viable candidate for relocation. They have a franchise running back in Maurice Jones-Drew, who played collegiately at UCLA. The Jaguars also have a top notch defense. Those two variables, along with a change of scenery, could make the revamped Jaguars a force to be reckoned with.

If the NFL awarded Los Angeles an expansion team, the new ownership group would be wise to hire a quality general manager and head coach (Bill Parcells, anyone?). This would enable the team to attract prized free agents to Los Angeles.

Plus, the return of the NFL to Los Angeles would rekindle all sorts of rivalries with current NFL teams.  The Oakland Raiders would love to properly exact revenge against the city that stole their beloved Raiders. The San Diego Chargers would also take the opportunity to beat their more celebrated Los Angeles neighbors in an effort to escape Los Angeles’ shadow.

While it’s uncertain when exactly Los Angeles would receive an NFL team, such a transaction would only enhance the NFL as an entity better than reality TV.  If everything falls into place, who knows? Maybe Los Angeles will realize a Super Bowl title for the first time in over thirty years. And that would be the perfect storybook ending for a city that’s grown accustomed to them.