Tuesday’s story (July 29th) on Yahoo sports about Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys owner) dismissing the relocation of the Pittsburgh Steelers to Los Angeles appears to be smoke and mirrors. Anonymous insiders say Edward Roski Jr secretly met with Investor Stanley Druckenmiller just this past weekend in Las Vegas to discuss terms for the team’s relocation to Los Angeles.
On July 7th, 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the current Steelers ownership group announced plans to sell controlling interest of the team to comply with NFL ownership regulations. Four of the five Rooney brothers that own the Steelers have decided to sell their interests in the team to further pursue their interests in the race tracks they own in New York and Florida. Because these race tracks and gambling interests have violated league rules since 2006, the league is forcing the sale.
On July 11th, 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller was in negotiations for purchasing the team shares belonging to the Rooney brothers. Coach Tomlin was quoted as saying,” the situation could become a distraction for the team.”
In April of this year developer Edward Roski announced plans to build a NFL stadium 20 miles outside Los Angeles. Roski, part owner of the LA Lakers and Kings has already completed environmental impact studies with construction likely to begin as soon as the fall of 2008. Unique in stadium financing is the $800 million dollar facility will be totally privately financed requiring no public money. The Los Angeles Stadium will have a seating capacity of 75,000 people and feature all the modern amenities that current NFL stadiums contain.
Other teams mentioned in the media that could potentially relocate to LA Stadium include: the ST Louis Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the San Diego Chargers. At this time though it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers have the jump on all other teams in negotiations. The question I ask of the readers today is: if this relocation comes to fruition should the Los Angeles Steelers still be called the Steelers? If not, what new name would you suggest?
It seems fitting enough.
We're the stolen car capitol of the world, high crime rates, our politicians are crooks, the Lakers stole Gasol from Memphis, the Dodgers stole Manny from Boston, now Pittsburg's football team?
Why not?
I LOVE L.A.
Last edited by BleedPRPL&GLD on July 31st at 8:12 PM.
What? Why on earth would a team with as big a fanbase as the Steelers relocate? The Steelers are the most beloved team in Pittsburgh.
If this did happen it would be like the Browns leaving Cleveland all over again. The city of Pittsburgh would probably fight to keep the name, colors and records in town just like Cleveland did.
Absolutely positively zero chance of the Steelers moving anywhere. The financial ramifications of the Steelers being indebted to Pittsburgh long term, over the building of Heinze Field, is enough to squash any rumors.
If anything, expect the Rams or Jaguars to be bought and moved. The Jaguars, who entered the league as an expansion franchise in 1995, have been one of the teams most often mentioned as a candidate to eventually relocate to Los Angeles. They have struggled for years to sell out their games at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, and Weaver recently laid off several members of his marketing staff to save money.
When Jerry Jones talked about the NFL's interest in having a team located in L.A (the nation's 2nd largest t.v. market), Jones made it clear he wasn't talking about the Steelers.
Last edited by MidniteCowboy on July 31st at 8:57 PM.
god these rumors and idiocracies just get stupider and stupider.
look to the dolphins to move? the cowboys? the chiefs?
lets say it DID happen, just for arguments sake......didn't the raiders do this already? they lost 20 percent of theif fan base between the two moves back and forth. the steelers would lose 35% and the league knows it. football saleries are out of control, owners are out of control, players could care less about the fans. where does it end. i saw an article when the cardinals moved here yo phoenix. " the mexico city oilers only stayed 1 year after moving there from alcapulco, now there is talk of them moving to houston of all places. the houston oilers just doesnt sound right," i would rather see the edmonton steelers!
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. team 1-1000 chance, name, colors and record, never. thuck fis
I predict Roski will buy the Rams and move them back to LA, where they belong. He'll correct that egregious mistake that the late Georgia Frontiere made. Then when that happens, Pete Carroll will leave USC to be Director of Football Operations for the Rams and be paid $10-$12 mil per year.
LA Steelers???...LOL... The city of Los Angeles wouldn't know what to do with a winning team......I don't know where this ridiculous rumor started but one of the first things Druckenmiller said if he bought the team was he would never move them out of Pittsburgh.
I don't see it happening, but stranger things have happened, look at the Cleveland move. If it did happen there is no way the teams name, colors or logo would leave Pittsburgh. Not that the new team would want them anyway, but the LA Stealers just sounds wrong.
Good read, but I don't think this would ever happen either. Nor would I want to see it happen. After watching the SuperSonics get taken away by corporate greed and weasel politicians, I'd hate to see the same thing happen to another fan base.
If theres going to be a team moved to LA, it should be it's original team, the Rams. No offense to St Louie, but the Rams would be the only logical thing in my opinion, other than expansion. And we know, there'll be no expansion any time soon.
moving moving moving!!!! where will it end!!!! i keep holding my breath... hoping mybe allen aka paul doesnt get ants in his pants??? and moves our only pro team ?? here in oregon ( you know that there is a state between washington and california)????the portland trailblazers.... like our cousins up north the sonics????? i really do wish we could have MLB, NFL here as well but??? MONEY IS AN ISSUE im sure!!!!!
Most of this is just gasbag rich billionaires trying to get PR. It isn't realistic to think the Steelers are leaving Pittsburgh anytime soon. While Druckenmiller may eventually pull a power play to overtake Dan Rooney, he is a PA boy and isn't looking to move the team.
Plus, just because many investors have discussed the willingness to build a state-of-the-art facility in LA, no one has come up with a plan to make the NFL a viable property in the city. The natives can spin the tale anyway they like - but they couldn't prevent the last two franchises from leaving there. So what has changed? Washington DC is going to experience the same thing with MLB. New state-of-the-art baseball facility and they can only keep it about less than 70% filled.
The only way that the Steelers would move to LA would be if all of the Rooneys gave up there 16% share. This is very unlikely to happen. They all share the team evenly along with there two cousins. Dan Rooney wants to sell his share but thats only one share. So if Druckenmiller would actually get a share of the franchise the rest of the Rooneys aren't gonna let him move the NFL's most storied and loved franchise anywhere. The Steelers stay in the 'Burgh and we all stay happy. Here We Go STEELERS! (Pittsburgh that is)
Last edited by JCoon12289 on August 1st at 11:11 AM.
Jcoon1289,
Four of the five Rooney bros will sell they want to keep their racetrack/gambling interests. They are making too much money in gambling. It is a fact look it up in the Pitt.-gazette or Team home page about restructuring. Even Wiki has an clip on it under re-structuring. Just google Steeler ownership and you'll be shocked.
How about they stay put and call themselves the Los Angeles Steelers of Pittsburgh? It works for the Angels. By the way, the first suggestion of the Los Angeles Stealers is hilarioius.
hawkwiz
If this is what Druckenmiller has in mind he'll alienate the fans in Pittsburgh. And at the same time he won't stand a cat in hell's chance of making this happen. He won't stand a chance of getting the votes needed from the NFL Board Of Governors and the owners themselves'd be also against it.
There's not a chance that this'd materialize at all. If Goodell values his position as commissioner. He'll sit Druckenmiller down along with the other owners of the Steelers and tell 'em that this'll be a none starter.
There's more chance of the Chargers moving to LA than this premise taking place.
And Spanos as the owner of the Chargers will for one make sure that such a thing involving the Steelers doesn't happen.
justan' aka tophatal .......
Last edited by justanotherfan on August 1st at 1:53 PM.
eh. let them do it. Let them feel what its like to NOT HAVE A TEAM! I WOULD KNOW!!! BROWNS ROCK! Ravens SUCK! Let Pittsburgh have to get an expansion team. Let's make THEM see how hard it is to build a franchise. They all say, Why'd it take you so long to get good Browns? Well, now all those haters might just find out why it took so long. Let them try to build an expansion team. PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN! Oh. and Justan. CLEVELAND was a HUGE football town when we were moved to baltimore. AND WE STILL ARE! You say, how could they do this to Pittsburgh? I tell you, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO CLEVELAND! I WAS OUT OF FOOTBALL FOR 4 YEARS! Rock on Cleveland!
HOLY COW! Are you kidding me? I didn't hear this. That can't happen, the first thing you think of when you say Pittsburgh is the legendary Steelers! They can't possibly move!
The NFL should never have allowed the Rams out of LA in the first place. I don't doubt that LA will have a team. Not the Steelers though, Pittsburgh just wouldn't be the same. What are those Rooney brothers thinking anyway? I'd say the odds are much higher that it will be the Rams under new ownership. The league is currently balanced and I doubt there will be further expansion unless it is two or more teams. So if LA gets a team it will have to grab an existing one and by rights it should be in the NFC...
What the hell does L.A. know about football or hockey? They messed it up every time. They do fine with basketball and baseball but stay away from stuff that involves violent stuff. You guys know L.A. only does their violence in the streets.
A new name definately - since the Steelers name and logo is only identified with and appropriate for the "Steel City". Now about a new name - something to suggest west coast - hmm - how about the LA Pansies.
I hate it if any team moves!!!!!!! Leave the Steelers in Pittsburgh. If it has to be any team, I guess it should be the Rams, since that is where they came from anyway!
orange- It would also toss that rivalry between the Browns and the Steelers right out the window. I love seeiong the intensity those teams bring, especially last year, when they play each other.
I hate it every time they move a team. It's good to see their are others like me when it comes to this. I felt horrible the day the Browns were gone. Let hope this guy stands true to his word of not moving them. I have been a Steeler fan for over 30 years.
I agree with someones comment as to "What does LA know about football anyway"? They'll only screw it up.
STEELERS HAVE TO STAY IN PITTSBURGH.
I BLEED BLACK AND GOLD.
GOD BLESS all of those who support keeping our beloved team home where they were born. Keep the faith!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by Bigplayswin on August 2nd at 7:12 PM.
Netsteeler.. you said there would be a zero chance of team records being moved too? Well Clay Bennett has copies being made (trophies & Banners)of the Seattle Supersonic World Championship, Conference, and Division Titles. He did change the name to the Thunder, but he says the records will be "shared".
Greenspire..yes divisonal rivals lose out too.
The Steelers will remain in Pittsburgh. I'm the biggest Steeler fan in living in California but I would'nt want to see them here on the westcoast; they live and bleed Pittsburgh!
How about, 'the Squeelers'. I agree with Keith, Sell em off. I would love to see the Steelers have to start over with an expansion team so that Browns fans could be obnoxious while they try to rebuild. Feel the pain, bi*ches!
I can't wait for game 2. The Squeelers finally get to feel the power. After squeeking through last season on luck and Charlie's incompetence, this season should finally put those toothless, yellow-toilet-paper-waving fans of theirs on the bottom of the trash heap, like they deserve. Get ready to meet Jamaal and the Best O-line in football. You're going to feel like one of Michael Vick's loosing dogs when we're done with you!
Finally, Sunday afternoons are going to be reserved for inbreeding, since it isn't any fun to watch the Browns win in Steeler country.
There is no way the steelers will ever move out of pittsburgh. If we can keep the pirates who haven't had a winning season in almost two decades, what would make anybody think that a consistant winning team would move out of Pittsburgh?
This is a joke "DRUNKEN-Miller" exactly. Anyhow, when I think Pittsburgh, I automatically think Steelers. I believe that they should keep their name and their team. If any team is to move it needs to be the LA Rams back, I believe that the Steelers need to keep their fans and it seems as they have die-hards. I'm a californian, (LA) and would LOVE to see an LA team, but the Steelers??? Come on you guys, let's get real, let Pittsburgh (Steel City, hence the name "The Steelers" keep their team. The Rams is most likely the win take on this. Some team names are chosen for a reason, hence, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers. Please let's keep these team names at that city. If they need to be sent to a different city then have the decency to change the entire team name.
I have been a Seahawk and Mariner Fan since they were established. I have coached and managed youth sports for many years. As a kid my favorite sports to play was football and basketball. One of my first jobs out of college was a sports correspondent , I guess I never really got this out of system, which has led me sports blogging. I have adopted the Trialblazers for my basketball team since the Sonics have been stolen by a rich Oakkee. Maybe Starbucks will pull a rabbit out the hat and I can go back to rooting for Sonics: yeah, I know I am a dreamer too. I have a wonderful family that supports my sports addiction.
