On Sunday, Chargers players like Philip Riverssaid farewell to San Diego — even though the relocation of the team is hardly official. It nevertheless felt final, because it’s becoming more and more clear that the Chargers are likely to leave town.
Some think that the sense it’s ending could be exactly what it takes to kick start a long-suffering effort to finally build a new stadium in San Diego. But it’s likely too late to make it happen. Even if San Diego were to become fully committed at this moment to get a new stadium built, the Chargers aren’t willing to wait and see what happens because, if they do and if the effort fails, the Chargers will be SOL in L.A.
The departure of the Chargers won’t necessarily prompt San Diego to stop trying to build a new stadium. Like St. Louis and Baltimore after they lost the Cardinals and Colts, respectively, in the 1980s, San Diego could try to build a stadium in an effort to land a new team.
So how about the Raiders? Although owner Mark Davis has no interest in replacing the Rams in St. Louis, moving to San Diego isn’t all that different from moving to L.A. Ultimately, Davis wants a new stadium; if he can get one in San Diego, thanks to the sense of urgency that will come from the loss of the Chargers and the allure of bringing one of their top rivals to town.
Crazier things have happened, and it really wouldn’t be all that crazy if, at some point down the line, the Raiders move south, beyond L.A. and to the city that is about to be vacated for it.
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