NFL closing in on Los Angeles relocation decision

NEW YORK – One by one, National Football League owners left league headquarters in New York City expressing optimism they can make a decision next week in Houston on whether the St. Louis Rams or Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers will be approved for relocation to Los Angeles and what site they will call home.

“I think we all want to see this issue settled by next week,” said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

And after a long, full day of meetings here, the 17 owners making up the committee on Los Angeles Opportunities and the stadium and finance committees created a path they hope will finally push the process over the goal line.

Part of which requires the Chargers, Raiders and Rams adhering to a series of stipulations by the end of the week.

Among them, agreeing to a $550 million relocation fee, per team, and providing a date for the opening of their new stadiums.

The Rams are proposing a privately funded stadium in Inglewood and the Chargers and Raiders have teamed up to build a stadium in Carson.

According to a high-ranking league official, the NFL’s stadium and finance committees will take those factors into account – among others, according to another source – to determine whether the Rams, Raiders or Chargers are eligible for relocation.

That will set the stage for a relocation vote next week in Houston.

At which point, the three teams will learn their fates and the city of Los Angeles will find out who will be playing in the second-biggest market in the country next season.

“I think everyone’s looking forward to a resolution to this whole process,” said Chargers owner Dean Spanos. (Hopefully) it’ll get done.”