Pats owner Kraft: L.A. will have two NFL teams within next year
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he believes the NFL will have two teams in the Los Angeles area within the next year.
"I don't think it's good that we've let a generation of fans, young kids, grow up without a team. It's not good for the NFL," Kraft said at the NFL owners' meetings in Phoenix. "I really believe within the next year we'll have two teams in this market. ... We have some real good options."
He didn't say which teams might wind up there, although speculation is the Rams, Chargers and Raiders are prime candidates.
St. Louis owner Stan Kroenke has designed a Los Angeles-area stadium for two clubs -- with two home locker rooms, identical sets of office space and two owners' suites.
Kroenke doesn't need to partner with a second team to finance the $1.86 billion venue in Inglewood, but the league considers Los Angeles a two-team market and wants a stadium that could accommodate both, the Los Angeles Times reported.
His plan competes with one by the Chargers and Raiders, who have announced plans for a $1.7 billion stadium in suburban Carson if they don't get new stadiums in their current hometowns.
A team or teams moving to Los Angeles presumably would play at the Coliseum or Rose Bowl until a new stadium was built.
"There might just be one team, but I really think to support the financial commitment of doing the kind of stadium that's necessary in LA, you need the resources of two teams," Kraft said.
-
NFL Offensive, Defensive Rookie of the Year bets to make now, including a long shot
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
What Blake Corum’s addition means for Kyren Williams, Rams’ rushing game
-
Why a former 250-pound lacrosse player is Bucs’ future leader on offensive line
2024-25 NFL MVP odds: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen early favorites
2024-25 NFL odds: Patriots open with lowest Over/Under win total since 1991
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top prospects
Texans owner: WR Tank Dell will make 'full recovery' after being wounded in shooting
J.J. Watt says he'd come out of retirement if Texans 'absolutely need it'
-
NFL Offensive, Defensive Rookie of the Year bets to make now, including a long shot
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
What Blake Corum’s addition means for Kyren Williams, Rams’ rushing game
-
Why a former 250-pound lacrosse player is Bucs’ future leader on offensive line
2024-25 NFL MVP odds: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen early favorites
2024-25 NFL odds: Patriots open with lowest Over/Under win total since 1991
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top prospects
Texans owner: WR Tank Dell will make 'full recovery' after being wounded in shooting
J.J. Watt says he'd come out of retirement if Texans 'absolutely need it'