Paramount Pictures / Getty Image composite
On Tuesday, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic reported that the NFL has had discussions about possibly moving the highly unpopular Los Angeles Chargers to London to fill one of the two spots the league would like to see filled by a team in Europe.
Bonsignore wrote, “NFL owners are concerned enough about the Chargers’ situation in L.A., where a crowded sports market and the presence of the more established Rams has resulted in a tepid embracement of the Chargers, that they would provide the necessary support for a relocation to London if the Chargers pursue it.”
The fact that people in Los Angeles enjoy going to Chargers games to root for whoever the Bolts are playing has not been lost on the NFL’s higher-ups.
That and the facts that the most recent NFL game held at Wembley Stadium had 83,000 people in attendance, plus the new $ billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium being opened in London has the NFL looking to make a move.
Granted, the Chargers will be moving out of their current 27,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park into the brand new $5 billion SoFi Stadium, which they will be sharing with (and leasing from) the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, but the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, Daniel Levy, is ready and willing to welcome an NFL team to their new digs.
Naturally, because they would like to keep the dozen or so Chargers fans coming to their soccer stadium for the rest of the 2019 season, the team issued a response denying that it is looking to move to London, by using a clip from The Wolf of Wall Street on Twitter.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 5, 2019
Then, as if that wasn’t believable enough, Chargers owner Dean Spanos reportedly said about the rumors, “It’s total fucking bullshit, ok? We’re not going to London. We’re not going anywhere. We’re playing in Los Angeles. This is our home. This is where I’m planning to be for a long fucking time. Period.”
The full quote from Chargers owner Dean Spanos: "It's total fucking bullshit, ok? We're not going to London. We're not going anywhere. We're playing in Los Angeles. This is our home. This is where I'm planning to be for a long fucking time. Period."
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) November 5, 2019
Guess what?
No one believes them.
Why would your "fanbase" trust that? You left your hometown 2 years ago for a shot at a new market. Seeing how few fans you have in LA makes it pretty clear the situation hasn't changed and you're just as likely to do the exact same thing again with London
— Gbay99 (@Gbay99) November 5, 2019
✍️
— Freezing Cold Takes (@OldTakesExposed) November 5, 2019
If there is anything I know about this franchise it’s that they are incredibly loyal!
— cook (@cook17) November 5, 2019
This is great content. Would’ve been a lot more believable if you felt this way about the city of San Diego @Chargers 🤷🏻♂️.
— Matt BP 🥁 (@mbp____) November 5, 2019
That’s what he said before leaving San Diego
— Joshua Calzada (@thotshua23) November 5, 2019
— RaiderTailgate (@FriarTailgate) November 5, 2019
Funny how everything went downhill after this scene. Forced to close the company and sent to jail. Jerry and Co will decide your fate Dean Spanos!
— Alex Whittam (@WhittamCA) November 5, 2019
Classic. Deano said the same shit years ago
— Dave (@TheFakeDRomero) November 5, 2019
One of the greatest PR responses in history. If this doesn’t inspire the 30 remaining Chargers fans I don’t know what will.
— Ryan Hurst (@TheRyanHurst) November 5, 2019
You better pack your fucking bags
— Tony X (@soIoucity) November 5, 2019
— Douglas Charles (@Douglazilla) November 5, 2019