Gilmore Stadium home of the Bulldogs (now CBS Television City)
Ever since the Raiders and the Rams left Los Angeles after the 1994 season, there has been a vacuum in the second largest media market in the country. At first, both the League and the city wanted to bring a team back to the Southland. Almost immediately, the Browns, Bengals, Buccaneers and Seahawks were rumored to be possible replacements–none of which came to fruition.
Los Angeles Bulldogs (1936-48)
A major sticking point with the League was the question of where a possible new team would play. Attendance had dwindled for the Rams at the Big A down in the OC. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was too old and required costly repairs due to the '94 Northridge Earthquake. In addition, the Coliseum had a capacity of more than 90,000, which was hard to fill. If the stadium couldn't meet an attendance threshold then the local telecast blackout rule could not be broken which was often the case in the Raiders' situation. Also the case: the Coliseum had no club seats or luxury boxes–a revenue must in this day and age. In the following years there were several grand schemes for new NFL venues in LA and many more rumors of teams that would possibly make the move to sunny southern California.
Proposed and now abandoned Coliseum renovation.
Proposals for stadia in the Southland included those near Staples Center (2001), the City of Industry, Carson, Chavez Ravine (next to Dodger Stadium), Anaheim and renovating renovating both the Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. As rumors of possible moves by the Jaguars, Vikings, Chargers, Falcons, Saints, Colts, 49ers and even the Raiders and Rams came and went, it eventually became clear that the second largest media market was more valuable as a bargaining chip than as an serious home to an NFL franchise. Nearly half the cities in the League can thank Los Angeles for gaining an expansion team, a new stadium and/or an extended contract.
Los Angeles Dons (1946-49)
Now, as NFL stadium hopes renew with the proposal by AEG to replace the old wing (West Hall) of the LA Convention Center with an NFL stadium next to Staples Center/adjacent to LA Live, one wonders what name an LA franchise should have.
Check out a history of football teams in Los Angeles from The Daily News.
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