Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of Qualcomm Stadium during the opening kickoff of the NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Texas is one of the largest states in the nation in terms of population, yet only has two NFL teams. California has 3 NFL teams, New York has 3 NFL teams, and Florida also has 3 NFL teams. Well Texas Governor Rick Perry thinks there could be a home for a third NFL team in San Antonio.
Many think that the San Diego Chargers would just move a few hours north to Los Angeles, but Gov. Perry thinks they should swap the Diego for Antonio. San Antonio is currently home to only 1 professional sports franchise, the San Antonio Spurs. And they have been to a certain degree a model of excellence in the NBA. In the past decade and a half they’ve won 4 NBA Titles.
“You’d have to ask the Spanos family,” Perry said, via UT San Diego. “Dean is a good friend and I would be lying if I didn’t tell you, come to Texas and we would love to have their athletic club there. But there’s a family whose been there forever. If it gets so difficult for them to be able to operate, that’s always an option, but again you’d have to ask them. I have no indication that the Chargers are going to be coming to Texas anytime soon.”
San Antonio is the 8th largest city in the United States. Dallas for comparison is 9th. Now, the Dallas metropolitan area is larger but as far as the city goes San Antonio could have the market to support an NFL franchise. They already have the Alamo Dome in place which is used by the Dallas Cowboys for training and NCAA bowl games.
San Diego currently struggles to sell out their home games yet have informed San Diego they’ll be staying for the 2013 season.