We'll start with the news of Los Angeles getting closer and closer to breaking ground on a new NFL stadium in the San Fernando Valley. Last week the Governator signed a bill that will speed up the process to build a new $800 million stadium, which supposedly will be the site for Super Bowl 50 (as per NFL wishes). Obviously the stadium will not be built and then torn down after the event. The goal is to have a NFL team willing to relocate. Seven teams were listed as possible candidates. Let's weed some of the out right now, shall we?
Buffalo Bills: The Bills would move to Toronto before they moved to L.A. Last season they began playing a regular season game in Toronto and will continue to do so. It does not make any sense for the Bills to move far away from their established fan base, if indeed they are to leave Buffalo.
Minnesota Vikings: Even though they have had issues in the dome, the fan base of Minnesota is very loyal and would never allow the team to leave, especially after this season and all that Favre and Peterson are doing to put the team into Super Bowl contention.
St. Louis Rams: The Rams burned L.A. fans and were the red headed step child to the Raiders. Also, the potential new owners will be looking to keep them in St. Louis. What they will need to focus on however is putting a better field on the team. The Rams have been so bad for so long now, that fans have given up. Yet, if a quality product is put on the field, St. Louis fans will support them. Cardinal fans are some of the most diehard in MLB. They'll come back, if they have something to root for.
San Francisco 49ers: Are you kidding me? Do I even need to go on? The 49ers are a staple of San Francisco and even though their stadium is awful (not as bad as the Oakland Coliseum, but close), the fans would never let that happen. They would agree to a tax hike in San Jose to build a new stadium there before the team ever moved.
Oakland Raiders: Al Davis won't move them back to L.A. and after the crypt keeper dies, any new ownership, whether they want to move the team to L.A. or not will be met with resistance. The Raiders left a stain when they departed and it is my opinion that fans would not welcome them back. The team comes with a lot of baggage and I think, for whichever team eventually moves into the stadium, there will need to be serious consideration given to the fact that fans will want to make that team their own and I do not believe L.A. wants the Raiders back.
That leaves two teams that I think are the best and most likely candidates.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The team is hurting so badly economically that any opportunity to move to a location that will allow them to stay afloat would be warmly welcomed. Their games have been blacked out this season and the product on the field is not so good. Jacksonville, besides Green Bay and Buffalo, is one of the smallest markets in the league. A fresh new start in Los Angeles would be just thing remedy for the Jaguars. Also, I believe that L.A. would embrace the team.
San Diego Chargers: Issues with Qualcomm stadium and the city of San Diego continue to be sore subjects for both parties. New locations for a possible stadium come and go with the wind. When you speak to dedicated fans and ask them what they would think if the team moved, they say, "let them go." When the Chargers are competing for the AFC West title, the Q is packed. When they are not, you see a sea of the other team's jerseys. Also, San Diegans are no strangers to teams up and leaving them. Finally, the move would make the most sense geographically and economically. The diehard fans would travel to the new stadium, L.A. and Orange County fans would want to be a part of the scene, and so it would be a win-win for the NFL and Los Angeles. I certainly hope this does not happen. I think the Chargers belong in San Diego and that the best possible solution would be a stadium in North County, one that is close enough for L.A. and Orange County fans to come down to and support the team while San Diegans would still have the chance to keep the team in their county.
There is another scenario in which the NFL could get a team in Los Angeles and no current team, including the Chargers, would relocate to the San Fernando Valley. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has made it no secret that he would like to have a team in London. If this were to occur then it is highly possible that Los Angeles would get an expansion team and two additional teams would be added to the league.
Enough about the move, for everyone who saw the Chargers route of the Chiefs yesterday, don't get too excited, it was the Chiefs. For those who say "this is how we started last season" and are holding on to hope, start planning on next season, because even though yesterday's win was a dominant one, a few major hurdles remain. The first being a sense of loyalty to L.T. Norv Turner attempted, on four downs, to get L.T. a touchdown and failed all four times. It was pathetic. The defense, for the most part held their own, but once again…Chiefs. The third, and most important issue, is that the Broncos are flying high (in their balloon) in Denver and if they get past the Ravens this week, will amass a lead that I do not believe can be overcome, like last season. The Chargers will dominate the Raiders this weekend, but in order to get back into the race, they need the Ravens to step it up and bring the Broncos back down to earth, maybe in a nice, soft, grain field.
Final football note, my condolences go out to the family of Walt Daniels who died last week from injuries sustained after falling out of the Press Box prior to last Monday Night's game.
The San Diego Padres decided instead of history (hiring the first female GM) to go with Boston Red Sox GM, Theo Epstein's, protégé 35 year-old Jed Hoyer. You've got a mighty task in front of Hoyer, Good luck. Also in Padres news, CEO Jeff Moorad and the sales staff decided to send a mass mailing campaign urging former season tickets (of one I am which) to return in a highly glossed folder that came with a DVD of Moorad stating all the reasons why we should return. Let me share some of them with you…maybe you'll get excited and want to give the Padres your hard earned money:
- They've kept the season ticket prices the same as 2009. How nice, they are not jacking up ticket prices from a team that lost 87 games and were essentially out of any race prior to the All Star Game. Come on, Jeff, you should be smarter than that. Lower the ticket prices and prove that you've got a decent squad for 2010 and then the fans will be willing to trust you.
- Removed new membership and relocation fees. I've never heard of relocation fees and if you were charging new ticket holders fees to join, maybe that is why Petco was so empty last season.
- Printed the day of the game price on season tickets instead of discount prices. The only people who ask to do this are ticket brokers who are trying to make a profit. Basically, you've just said, "okay third party ticket brokers, now we've given you a chance to hose our fans."
- Given season ticket holders a "go to" account specialist. What did they do in the past, call an automated system? Was your customer service that bad in the past that you needed to revamp them with these new account specialists? Another reason why the stadium may have been so empty, but awful business practice if true.
He goes on to note some of the up and coming prospects. Whether or not they turn out to be good, I can assure you that up and coming prospects do not excite fans, especially in this economy. They want to know they are getting a bang for their buck and that bang is in the form of a big time, free agent…no, not like David Eckstein.
It is a desperate attempt, albeit a good and pretty one, I am just not sure fans are going to fall for it. From my days working for the Kansas City Royals, their fans knew that they could walk up on the day of the game and buy great seats behind home plate, thus they never bought packages. This is the future for the Padres unless they lower prices and bring in a big name that they can rally behind. In 2005/06, I was with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California and even though they had a strong team, they brought in a few more free agents to make the team more solid. All that did was sell out the season ticket allotment for the first time in team history.
The last story I want to bring up is a "no good deed goes unpunished" tale. Hot tennis star Caroline Wozniacki (you remember her from the U.S. Open) was winning her first round match at the Luxemburg Open last week 7-5, 5-0 when she retired due to injury. She knew she was hurt and would not be able to compete in the next round, by retiring it would give her opponent the chance to go on. Well, she made the decision with her father/coach who came on the court to discuss her options with her. Too bad her dad could be heard on the open mike and thus a wave of bets in Europe for her opponent came pouring in, after the exchange. Wozniacki retires and a couple people make a quick buck. Gambling in tennis, like most sports, is a sin, but now Caroline's deed has come under fire. People believe her and her father had something under handed planned. I think that is ridiculous and I hope she gets better soon. Also, what casino's are allowing bets to continue to come in after the match begins? That's crazy.
Shout out to Mark McGwire the new batting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. While others who took steroids continue to play, Manny, A-Rod, Pettitte, Big Papi and others, McGwire had to hide in the shadows (and yes I know he's never admitted it, but come on). He is one of the greatest hitters the game ever had and along with Sammy Sosa, helped save the game of baseball during their historic (although tainted) home run race.
A very not cool to Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson who has been throwing around homophobic slurs like hot potatoes lately. Now GLAAD (gay & lesbian alliance against defamation) is asking the NFL to take action. I certainly hope they do. Larry, come on man, I know you are frustrated with the way your team is playing and the decline of your career, but you don't need to use these words to express your emotions.
I think this is my longest blog to date. There was a lot to cover. Anyway, on November 5th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm there is a "Kick Off" party for my new book, San Diego's Finest Athletes: Five Exceptional Lives, it would be great to see you there. Here is the link to register. There are only 200 tickets remaining before the event sales out. Click on http://sunbeltbook.com/BookDetails.asp?id=203 to reserve your spot today!
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