The National Football League is conducting a search for a temporary stadium in the Los Angeles Area, it was reported today.
The league on Thursday began issuing proposal requests to multiple venues in Southern California, including the Coliseum and Rose Bowl, with the intent of securing a temporary home for one or more teams for the 2016 season in the event of a return to the market, the Los Angeles Times reported in an article posted on its website this morning.
Chris Hardart, NFL vice president of corporate development, confirmed the process of issuing requests has begun, The Times reported.
“It is part of the process and an effort to understand all of our options and have a well thought-out plan if a team or teams were to be approved to relocate,” Hardart told The Times, declining to identify sites other than the Coliseum and Rose Bowl. In the past, league executives have touted the viability of Dodger Stadium as a potential temporary venue.
The L.A. market has been without a team since 1995, when the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders returned to Oakland. Both of those franchises are back in the relocation mix. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is proposing a stadium in Inglewood, and the Raiders have joined forces with the San Diego Chargers to back a stadium plan in Carson.
The league has scheduled a special meeting of NFL owners on Aug. 11 in Chicago to update them on the L.A. situation and to further define the schedule for one or two potential club relocations.
