Sports consultant Marc Ganis, who has chatted about NFL relocation and the Los Angeles situation several times with The Press Box, was quoted last week as saying Chargers owner Dean Spanos would win if the two LA stadium projects came down to a popularity contest. Ganis came back on The Press Box Wednesday to discuss the latest he’s hearing on the Rams’ future and the two Los Angeles stadium projects.
Listen to Ganis Interview
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More on last week's "popularity contest" quote:
"If it's a pure popularity contest it's Chargers owner Dean Spanos by far. He's (been very involved with the league), he's a good soldier. He's a person who is both well liked and trusted."
How is Stan Kroenke perceived amongst owners?
"Stan is perceived as a very successful, very wealthy businessman...He has not been anywhere near as active as Dean has been on various committees. The ownership committees are quite important because most of the work is done at the committee level. Stan's been on a few committees...But he's not been on nearly as many as Dean Spanos."
If there's three bad stadium situations, all three would be corrected if Carson is successful and the St. Louis stadium project is approved, right?
"Yep, that's one of the scenarios that works."
You believe the NFL will make Stan Kroenke abide by its bylaws, right?
"I believe they will make every team owner abide by the relocation rules and what a team has to demonstrate and the process they have to go through."
What stadium project do the owners like better: Inglewood or Carson?
"Had you asked me a month ago, I would say Stan Kroenke's Inglewood plan. But it's gotten a lot closer. Both plans are viewed as viable. There's going to be another (LA relocation) meeting coming up shortly and there will be much more discussion...and hear from Carson and Carmen Policy as both the Raiders and Chargers have hired him to lead their cause. It helps their cause significantly. He has great credibility and is a person who's done this before numerous times."
What about the San Diego and Oakland stadium plans?
"They still have time. Oakland is clearly...they have the highest desire to keep their team. But they also have the least amount of resources. San Diego has had opportunity after opportunity to put together a stadium plan. They've had political problems there...You'd think that's a market that would step up, but it has not. Whether they will change now or not, we'll find out. In the case of St. Louis, you've got the governor who has stepped up and taken a leadership position. Certainly St. Louis' plan is by a wide margin more concrete than the other cities."
What do you think is going to happen?
"My prediction is the options are going to narrow as we get to the decision-making time. And the right option are two are going to be self-evident by the decisions made by others. I think the right solutions are going to be self-evident as we get closer to the end of the year."
How awkward would it be for Rams owner Stan Kroenke to come back to St. Louis?
"At the time it looks awkward. (Like Adrian Peterson) coming back to the Vikings. It doesn't take long to get over that. These are challenging situations today. And they look like they've created a lot of animosity. But once things get resolved...you'd be surprised how quickly those things dissipate."
What's the timetable?
"I think the early fall will be the time we start to get answers. St. Louis needs to continue moving forward with all aspects of its stadium."
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc...atest-on-Rams-Future-LA-Stadium-Projects.aspx
