Rams move to L.A.

The Rams were voted to relocate the team to Los Angeles, Inglewood specifically, by the NFL owners in a 30-2 decision at the NFL Owners Meetings Jan. 12. Also voted on was the additional option for the San Diego Chargers to move to L.A.; San Diego will have until Jan. 2017 to sign a stadium lease in L.A..

The Rams are returning to L.A. after moving to St. Louis in 1995, the home of their only Super Bowl championship (1999). The San Diego Chargers have spent the previous 55 seasons in San Diego and have the next 12 months to decide whether or not to move.

The Oakland Raiders also have the opportunity of moving to L.A., but the Chargers would have to decline the move. If both teams decide not move to L.A., the NFL will grant each team $100 million to help fund the building of new stadiums in Oakland and San Diego, respectively.

The new Los Angeles Rams will play at the L.A. Coliseum, home of the USC Trojans football team, for the 2016-18 seasons while their stadium is being built in Inglewood, CA. The move was backed heavily by Rams owner, Stan Kroenke, worth an estimated $6.3 billion by Forbes in 2015. Kroenke’s new stadium will cost around $2.6 billion, and he will borrow about $1 billion from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Despite winning a title in St. Louis, the Rams had an overall losing record in their 20 seasons of 142-193-1. Fifteen losing seasons, 8 different head coaches, lack of stability at quarterback and an old dome with little renovations hurt the Rams’ chances of a success in St. Louis.

The move will bring a fresh start for the team and a chance to attract stars as they now reside in a top U.S. market.