Switching cities seems to be the new wave in the NFL. The Rams are moving to Los Angeles, the Raiders are considering moving to Las Vegas, and for a while, it looked like the Chargers were heading to Los Angeles, too.
Well, San Diego can rejoice at not having only the Padres' mediocrity lifting them up. The Chargers aren't moving, at least for now. Owner Dean Spanos at least tried to be transparent about the process in an open statement.
Today I decided our team will stay in San Diego for the 2016 season and I hope for the long term in a new stadium.
So the hope is only temporary. The Chargers have signed a relocation agreement with the Rams that would allow them to share a home stadium in Inglewood once it's built in 2019. Chargers have until Jan. 15, 2017 to decide if they want to do so; they can delay the decision until Jan. 15, 2018 if a referendum for public financing in San Diego isn't approved by Nov. 15.
Spanos wants to stay in San Diego, but he's looking for a new stadium. In their Statement for the Case for Relocation, the Chargers say that Qualcomm Stadium, their home for nearly five decades, "has continued to deteriorate," threatening the financial future of the franchise. The potential move to Los Angeles comes after years of negotiation with the city for a new home.