Rams Move Back to Los Angeles for the 2016 NFL season

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Posted: January 13, 2016

Updated: June 5, 2017

St. Louis loses an NFL team for the second time as the Rams move back to Los Angeles for the 2016 NFL season.

The Los Angeles Rams played in the City of Angels from 1946 to 1994. Prior to that, they had played in Cleveland. For the 1995 NFL season they abandoned L.A. for St. Louis. They have won a championship in each city they played. In 1988, the Cardinals were the first NFL team to leave St. Louis after a 27-year-long spell, and now, as the Rams move back to Los Angeles after 22 yeras, the city loses its second NFL team.

Los Angeles internet betting fans possibly can have not just one but rather two NFL franchises to cheer for soon. The Chargers also have the opportunity to leave San Diego for L.A. In that case, the two teams could share a new stadium in Inglewood by 2019. If the Chargers turn down the opportunity to relocate to Los Angeles, the Raiders will have the chance to leave Oakland for the second time to move to the City of Angels. Both franchises will be granted a $100 million contribution by the league if they decide to build a new stadium in their current location.

Rams move back to Los Angeles against the city of St. Louis’ will


Rams move from St. Louis to LA in 2016
Rams flag (Photo: Missouri Sports Redux)

The City of St. Louis were planning to build a new $1.1 billion stadium next to the Mississippi riverside to avert the Rams move back to Los Angeles. However, owner Stan Kroenke was determined to relocate the franchise to California. Francis Slay, Mayor of St. Louis commented the news in a statement.

“The NFL ignored the facts, the loyalty of St. Louis fans, who supported the team through far more downs than ups, and the NFL ignored a strong market and viable plan for a new stadium. I am proud of our effort and what St. Louis was able to accomplish in an extraordinarily short period of time. I thank everyone who worked so diligently on this project, especially the Governor's Task Force.”

“We understand the emotions involved of our fans and it's not easy to do these things,” was quoted Kroenke by US gambling news. “They are purposely made hard, but we're here today. We made a decision and we worked long and hard at the various alternatives. When they didn't succeed we worked to this point.”

Rams move back to Los Angeles to play in Inglewood


The location of the new Rams stadium will be at the Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood, ready by 2019 according to Kroenke. NFL team owners voted 30-2 to settle the Rams’ relocation case. Any other outcome would have been a huge surprise, since it is vital for the NFL to fully exploit the second-biggest media market in the country.

"I often said over those 21 years what we need is a great facility," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell commented the news. Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles welcomed the decision that granted the Rams move back to Los Angeles. He said, "Today, with the NFL returning home, Los Angeles cements itself as the epicenter of the sports world. We cannot wait to welcome the Rams, and perhaps others soon, as they join a storied lineup of professional franchises, collegiate powerhouses and sports media companies.”

Though the Raiders also submitted a relocation application earlier in the season, they withdrew it on Tuesday. It seems that they opted to remain in Oakland and solve their stadium problems there. The Oakland Raiders currently share the O.co Coliseum with the Oakland Athletics baseball team. That is the only shared facility in the NFL currently. The Raiders were thought to plan to move to San Antonio if their relocation to Los Angeles wouldn’t happen, but at the moment it seems that they will remain in Oakland instead. At least for now.

With US gambling laws about to change in California, it might happen that those who bet on sports in the US, especially in the Golden State, might profit from the Raiders move back to Los Angeles. If they will get two teams, Los Angeles might become the ultimate online betting paradise in the coming years.

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