NFL Team Relocation Rumor Mill

[FiddySicks]

One big problem if they did move the Saints and Jags to Los Angeles is there would have to be an NFL realignment. If they did that they would have to swap spots with the Rams and Cheifs and im not too sure the NFL would want that to ever happen

[epper]

Profootballtalk.com is one of the least reliable sites on the internet, so take anything from that site with a large grain of salt.....that being said

i can see the Saints moving to LA. I dont think Texas can support 3 teams, especially with one of them being the Cowgirls.

I live in Toronto, and I am a diehard Bills fan, but i DO NOT want the Bills to move away from Buffalo. the city lives and dies with that team, and without the Bills, they dont have much else (well...the sabres....but they barely count). i surely wouldn't mind a team coming to TO., but taking the Bills away from Buffalo/Orchard Park would just be cruel. the fans there are just about as devoted as Green Bay or Oakland, and they sell the Ralph out year in and year out.

[twi]

And Jacksonville? Too close to Atlanta. How many people on this Earth are Jags fans?

I am, but it does seem like a lonely boat sometimes. Especially living in Tampa.

I just don't see the Saints back in NO, I think they will be the LA team. It would suck for their fans to lose the team like that, but let's not forget that there were talks of them moving long before any hurricanes came along.

[Roger Clemente]

Move the team to New Brunswick. The Fleur-de-Lis would fit in nicely.

--Roger "Time?" Clemente.

[In 5..4..3..2..1]

Guys just heard on Pro Football Preview on Fox Sports Net...Jay Glazer said the the inside info he had on LA was that the area is not interested in the Saints at all they want the Chargers and he said that the Chargers are actually in preliminary talks with LA. I had said this before that I had heard that the SD local gov. is a mess...There is talk of corruption all kinds of trouble and that the people of that area would not trust the politicians pushing a publicly funded stadium which is the whole issue is SD the Spanos's want a new place. The lease runs out at the end of 06 or the begining of 07. Which would put the team there in 07 like the league has been talking. Like I said before that is where they started in 1960 the AFL days the LA Chargers. So the Saints go to SA or maybe stay put and the Jags just might be that other team that someone on here talked about as the second team in LA. Maybe

[Gamingboy]

If the Saints move, I'm guessing it's to LA. That's the only move that would make sense for the NFL, and even then, it would only make sense if a year or two from now New Orleans still hasn't gotten it's groove back (which I think it will, it's New Orleans after all).

What's funny about the fact the Saints might move to LA:

Southern California would then have the Saints, the Angels and they'd have the Padres downstate, only the Cardinals would elude them for the Holy Quad!

[Cujo]

What's funny about the fact the Saints might move to LA:

Southern California would then have the Saints, the Angels and they'd have the Padres downstate, only the Cardinals would elude them for the Holy Quad!

From what I've been hearing, If the Saints do make the move to Los Angeles, which I'm pretty sure they will, the city of New Orleans will most likely keep the rights to the name "Saints", ala the Cleveland Browns and Hartford Whalers.

[DEAD!]

What's funny about the fact the Saints might move to LA:

Southern California would then have the Saints, the Angels and they'd have the Padres downstate, only the Cardinals would elude them for the Holy Quad!

Yes, I'm holy

[The_Admiral]

From what I've been hearing, If the Saints do make the move to Los Angeles, which I'm pretty sure they will, the city of New Orleans will most likely keep the rights to the name "Saints", ala the Cleveland Browns and Hartford Whalers.

What right do they have to do that?

[JH42XCC]

Likely scenario:

-San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles

-New Orleans Saints move to San Antonio

-Jacksonville Jaguars move to New Orleans

What do you think?

[Cujo]

Likely scenario:

-San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles

-New Orleans Saints move to San Antonio

-Jacksonville Jaguars move to New Orleans

What do you think?

I think you're wrong.

- Saints move to LA.

- Chargers stay in SD.

- Jaguars stay in JAX.

- And no more expansion for at least another 15 years.

[In 5..4..3..2..1]

Jags stay in JAX

Saints go to SA

Chargers go to LA

no re-alignment needed

[RickV]

Likely scenario:

-San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles

-New Orleans Saints move to San Antonio

-Jacksonville Jaguars move to New Orleans

What do you think?

Would make sense, but all depends on if NFL would allow Chargers to move to LA. They dont want to abandon the SD market for the same reason they dont want the Saints in SA, size of the TV market. I'm pretty sure they'd be happy to move Jacksonville to another location. I'm sure they are not too happy with giving Jacksonville a franchise, and the NFL NEVER likes to admit to a mistake. If you go strickly by TV and Market size, it would be Chargers to LA, Saints to SA, and Jags to SD, that would still leave NO out in the cold. Everyone who thinks that NO would quickly recover and be able support an NFL team in a year or two isnt being very realistic. Army corps of engineers have been quoted as saying that if anything, the devestation is being UNDER estimated. The city will NEVER be the same again, and it will take 5-10 years Minimum to bring NO back, and more likely would take 10-20 yrs. This coming from an Army corp engineered interviewed on Fox Sports Radio.

[RickV]

I think all this speculation is just that, speculation. SA mayor has already come out on record as saying he doesnt want to use any public funds for a new stadium, which of course is what Benson wants, and the same attitude apparently prevails in LA, that voters wouldnt approved new taxes for a new venue, or massive renovation of the Colliseum. Plus, what potential owner in the LA area is ready to go and buy the Saints? Tom Benson is on record as saying he doesnt want to sell anyway, and has already turned down huge offers. Wouldnt construction on a new LA venue take 2 years or more? This is quite a mess for the NFL right now.

[Saint Zephyr III]

Well, it'll be interesting with the fate of these teams.

In regards to San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger (a rather gruffy kind of guy) didn't say he was against any public funds for stadium-related deals, rather against building a completely new stadium. The Alamodome does need some renovation, such as a complete retouch, adding more club seats and suites, and a general improvement. However, a new stadium would cost around $700 million dollars and make the Alamodome a useless hallow shell...AGAIN.

San Diego, though there is some difficulty in getting down a stadium deal, will most likely lead to a optimistic path and ultimate resolution. The Chargers don't want to leave San Diego, the fanbase doesn't want them to leave, the NFL doesn't want to abandoned another Californian market, even if it would place the team in L.A.

Jacksonville is slowly revealing itself as one of the big mistakes Tagliabue and the league have done during his tenure. The fanbase is not 100%, and success is no excuse. The team actually has one of the better franchise records in the league and this year, the Jaguars are slowly becoming a powerhouse wild card, and probably for years to come. Even with a reported 15,000 sponsored seats, they still struggled to sellout. And let's face it...you can count the number of non-Jacksonvillian fans on your hands, so there's barely any mainstream appeal. As well, the reaction to the city as a Super Bowl host was downright atrocious. They had to hull in boats for the masses, and hardly anything to pass the time in a city as big as Houston yet with an eighth of the population and entertainment venues. Pass in an area that unfortuantely in the middle ground of Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Miami, Jacksonville could very well end up moving, perhaps to the site where the second expansion team really should have gone to: San Antonio.

The other two possibilities are storied franchises that are currently in their worst times. San Francisco is an absolutely horrendous joke of a franchise now: they are an atrocious team with little hope other than getting Reggie Bush, there's little fate in the coaching staff, the fanbase are in the Dark Ages, the Yorks have pretty much destroyed a franchise, and they now reside in a terribly outdated stadium. I wouldn't put it past Mr. and Mrs. Moron to actually move this franchise to L.A., which the NFL wouldn't even allow.

And Minnesota...will the Great North ever find peace? The new owner really hasn't invegurated the government to finaniced or even support a new stadium. And as of now, the team is just absolutely painful to watch, much less read about. Minnesota is essentially predestined to become the Cubs of the NFL (trust me, twenty years from now, calling someone a Vikings fan will have the vibe of calling someone a Cubs fan), so Minnesota should remain in the Twn Cities to bring about a New Age of Championship Abstinence.

And Los Angeles has been given opportunities in the past decade to bring the NFL back, but each time, be it expansion or relocation, the very political and economic system always seem to find a way to constantly shoot themselves in the foot. Sure, the NFL may try to bring the Saints to L.A., but it'll just end up being an aggravating process, with a result that may not have been the best idea for a team that had a blatantly mediocre fanbase for two teams.

So with the fates of San Diego, Jacksonville, San Francisco, or even Minnesota still in a pickle, we'll see. Though as I see it, it could very well turn out something like this:

1) The New Orleans Saints do end up moving to L.A., but through extensive pressure, allows the city to keep the identity so they can use it when the next round of expansion rolls around, which should be around 2020 or so. As for L.A., we can call them the Emperors or Carpetbaggers or something catchy. However, a change in division alignment will have to be changed, perhaps swapping places with Arizona or St. Louis in the NFC West.

2) San Diego stays put, trust me on this.

3) The Jaguars will be moving eventually from Jacksonville, moving to San Antonio where they can still keep their namesake. Plus, as a San Antonian myself, the name is not that bad at all.

4) San Francisco will momentarily to the unthinkable and move to L.A., going under possibles name like "Anahiem 49ers" or "Pasadena 49ers". However, the NFL forces them to return to a distraught San Fran, and the exile of the Yorks occurs.

5) Minnesota stays put and goes a century without a championship.

Not a bad analysis for a guy with only four posts, eh?

[IceCap]

San Diego, though there is some difficulty in getting down a stadium deal, will most likely lead to a optimistic path and ultimate resolution. The Chargers don't want to leave San Diego, the fanbase doesn't want them to leave, the NFL doesn't want to abandoned another Californian market, even if it would place the team in L.A.

Trust me, the Chargers want to move to LA. They've been thinking about it for acouple of years. They've moved their training camp there, and they consider LA their "secondary market." The fact is that the Chargers want a new stadium, and with all the problems with the leadership in SD the Chargers will be in LA for 2007, 2008 at the leatest (depending on when their lease runs out). Between the Chargers and the Saints, the city of LA WANTS the Chargers. If the NFL was smart they'd listen to the city of LA, and let the Chargers move. This would see to it that fan support in LA is at it's strongest from day one. Besides, the Chargers are a more successful team then the Saints, so it will be easier for LA fans to get get behind the Chargers compared to the Saints.

Jacksonville is slowly revealing itself as one of the big mistakes Tagliabue and the league have done during his tenure. The fanbase is not 100%, and success is no excuse. The team actually has one of the better franchise records in the league and this year, the Jaguars are slowly becoming a powerhouse wild card, and probably for years to come. Even with a reported 15,000 sponsored seats, they still struggled to sellout. And let's face it...you can count the number of non-Jacksonvillian fans on your hands, so there's barely any mainstream appeal. As well, the reaction to the city as a Super Bowl host was downright atrocious. They had to hull in boats for the masses, and hardly anything to pass the time in a city as big as Houston yet with an eighth of the population and entertainment venues. Pass in an area that unfortuantely in the middle ground of Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Miami, Jacksonville could very well end up moving, perhaps to the site where the second expansion team really should have gone to: San Antonio.

The Jags won't go to SA. No where has anyone heard that. Besides, the city of SA wants the Saints, as seen in the Saints two "home" games there. The city of SA won't recieve the Jags as well as the Saints. There will be a team in SA: the Saints. The Jags will move, to Montgomery, Birmingham, or even Oklahoma City.

The other two possibilities are storied franchises that are currently in their worst times. San Francisco is an absolutely horrendous joke of a franchise now: they are an atrocious team with little hope other than getting Reggie Bush, there's little fate in the coaching staff, the fanbase are in the Dark Ages, the Yorks have pretty much destroyed a franchise, and they now reside in a terribly outdated stadium. I wouldn't put it past Mr. and Mrs. Moron to actually move this franchise to L.A., which the NFL wouldn't even allow.

The 49ers will NEVER move from SF, nor should they.

And Minnesota...will the Great North ever find peace? The new owner really hasn't invegurated the government to finaniced or even support a new stadium. And as of now, the team is just absolutely painful to watch, much less read about. Minnesota is essentially predestined to become the Cubs of the NFL (trust me, twenty years from now, calling someone a Vikings fan will have the vibe of calling someone a Cubs fan), so Minnesota should remain in the Twn Cities to bring about a New Age of Championship Abstinence.

The Vikings new owner wants the team to stay in Minnesota, so that's were they're be. Somehow "Green Bay Pakers vs Los Angeles Vikings" dosn't have as much appeal to it. The Viks, like the 9ers, are staying put.

And Los Angeles has been given opportunities in the past decade to bring the NFL back, but each time, be it expansion or relocation, the very political and economic system always seem to find a way to constantly shoot themselves in the foot. Sure, the NFL may try to bring the Saints to L.A., but it'll just end up being an aggravating process, with a result that may not have been the best idea for a team that had a blatantly mediocre fanbase for two teams.

The NFL wants a team in LA, they're get one: the Chargers. Not only do the Bolts want to be in LA, but LA wants the Chargers. It's win-win.

1) The New Orleans Saints do end up moving to L.A., but through extensive pressure, allows the city to keep the identity so they can use it when the next round of expansion rolls around, which should be around 2020 or so. As for L.A., we can call them the Emperors or Carpetbaggers or something catchy. However, a change in division alignment will have to be changed, perhaps swapping places with Arizona or St. Louis in the NFC West.

2) San Diego stays put, trust me on this.

3) The Jaguars will be moving eventually from Jacksonville, moving to San Antonio where they can still keep their namesake. Plus, as a San Antonian myself, the name is not that bad at all.

4) San Francisco will momentarily to the unthinkable and move to L.A., going under possibles name like "Anahiem 49ers" or "Pasadena 49ers". However, the NFL forces them to return to a distraught San Fran, and the exile of the Yorks occurs.

5) Minnesota stays put and goes a century without a championship.

Not a bad analysis for a guy with only four posts, eh?

1) The Saints will move, to SA. Benson, who owns the team, wants to move to SA, and the city of SA want the Saints. LA dosn't want them, and Benson dosn't want to move to LA. The Saints will be in SA possibly as early as next season. WHEN they do move there should be no Cleavland deal. It was idiotic when the Browns had to give up their identity and history to an expasnion team, the Sainst shouldn't have to. San Antonio Saints sounds pretty good to me. IMO when a team moves they have every right to take their identity and history with them.

2) The Chargers will be in LA, trust me on this.

3)The Jags may end up in either Montgomery, Birmingham, or Oklahoma City. However something tells me they're stay in Jax.

4) The 49ers will never leave SF, ever.

5) I agree, the Vikings will stay in Minnesota, but I disagree with you visions of their championship woes. The Vikins need a fresh start: fire Tice. That will be the catalyst that starts the franchise's turn-around.

[RickV]

Saints fans in Baton Rouge put on impressive display of "undying loyalty" today. Booed team frequently, started leaving game with 10 minutes to play and Saints down by only 12. Hard to take it seriously when they say they support them "ferociously".

[BBTV]

3)The Jags may end up in either Montgomery, Birmingham, or Oklahoma City. However something tells me they're stay in Jax.

Wha-wha-what?

The NFL wouldn't go from one small market to another.

[Andy]

Tagliabue says Saints are Louisiana's team (from ESPN.com): http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2208747

So I'm guessing the Saints will be staying in Louisiana, but not necessarily New Orleans.

[RickV]

Tagliabue says Saints are Louisiana's team (from ESPN.com): http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2208747

So I'm guessing the Saints will be staying in Louisiana, but not necessarily New Orleans.

What do you expect him to say? "Eff you New Orleans, we're moving them to LA"?

It's just a PR statement, dont read too much into it. Didnt he also tell the Cleveland fans the Browns weren't going anywhere too?