The National Football League announced Monday that it will hold public forums next week in San Diego, St. Louis and Oakland — three cities in danger of losing their teams to Los Angeles.
League officials said the purpose of the hearings is to provide an opportunity for fans and others in the community to ask questions and express their views directly to the NFL before decisions are made about potential relocation of one or more clubs from a current market.
Members of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s executive staff will be in attendance to listen to comments and answer questions from the audience, according to the NFL.
The San Diego forum — set for Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway — is open to the public, but a free entry pass will be required to attend. Online pre-registration to request an entry pass begins Tuesday at 8 a.m. Pacific Time at www.nfl.com/sdhearing.
Written comments may be submitted to sd.hearing@nfl.com between Tuesday and Nov. 13, according to the NFL.
The Chargers have been asking for a replacement for aging Qualcomm Stadium for around 15 years. With momentum growing for the league to return to Los Angeles, Chargers officials have acquired property in Carson on which they could build a stadium — possibly in conjunction with the Oakland Raiders.
Stan Kroenke, the owner of the St. Louis Rams, has plans to build a stadium in Inglewood, near the Los Angeles International Airport.
Officials in San Diego and St. Louis have both proposed building new stadiums in an effort to prevent their teams from moving, and have presented them to league executives.
NFL owners are expected to begin making decisions about which teams, if any, will move at the end of this year or early next year.
— City News Service
