NFL to LA: More Than Just The Rams

By now you’ve heard the NFL to LA saga has  ended with a vote to return the Rams to Los Angeles with an option to have either the Oakland Raiders or the San Diego Chargers join them in Inglewood.

With the NFL returning to Los Angeles this Fall, it won’t just be about Sundays on the football field, as the entertainment capitol of the world Los Angeles could be vaulted to the top of the sporting world now.

Now that Rams owner Stan Kroenke has gotten the okay to move his team, he is now guaranteed to have one or two tenants in his new stadium — but the new stadium will also be able to host the premier sports events in the country.

Depending on who opens up first, the Inglewood Stadium, or the new soccer specific stadium being built by the owners of the new MLS Los Angeles FC franchise, one will be the first privately-funded stadium built in Los Angeles since the Forum opened its doors in 1967.

That means Angelenos won’t be footing the bill unlike spurned St. Louis fans, who are still paying for the broken down stadium used to lure the Rams in the first place.

With the new stadium, Los Angeles automatically can become the premier sports destination for at least the next decade.

If all goes as planned, the new stadium will be opening in the Fall of 2019.

Once it’s open (and perhaps before) Los Angeles can begin to bid for the big events.  Starting with the NFL’s premier event, Los Angeles is now in the running to host it’s first Super Bowl since 1993.

The soonest Los Angeles could start bidding to host would be in 2021, as the NFL has already chosen it’s four finalists for 2020.

A Super Bowl in the city of angels would be a perfect backdrop for the biggest event in the NFL season.

When not it’s being used for American football, the stadium could also attract futbol.

When the NFL left Los Angeles in 1995, the world’s most popular game had barely made a footprint in America after a successful hosting job of the World Cup in 1994.  Now the U.S. Soccer team lures thousands of fans to huge watch parties in every major American city when they play in the World Cup.

With a brand new stadium, Los Angeles can expect to host U.S. National Team games for both the men and women, and any future American bids for the World Cup starting in 2026.

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Some people reading this may not remember, but Los Angeles hosted and revitalized the Olympic Games in 1984 — surely the new stadium will be part of a bid as Los Angeles has been selected as the U.S. bid city for the Games in 2024.

This, of course, comes along with the Los Angeles Coliseum and Rose Bowl the new stadium could host a myriad of events and perhaps the opening and closing ceremonies.

These are just a sliver of opportunities that bringing the NFL back to LA opens up.

Love college basketball? Let’s host the Final Four.

You want to watch “Chicharito” Javier Hernandez go up against Clint Dempsey?

How about a Mexico vs USA World Cup Qualifier match?

Need your WWE fix? How about a Wrestle mania or an outdoor Summer slam.

The possibilities could be endless, and Los Angeles’ re-marriage with the NFL has put it closer to being the premier sports capitol of the world.

Next: Los Angeles Rams Belong In NFC West

And it’s just getting started.