Las Vegas Raiders

NFL begins search for temporary venue in Los Angeles market for 2016 season

Published Jun. 27, 2015 7:16 p.m. ET

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The NFL has never been closer to a return to Los Angeles.

According to Sam Farmer the Los Angeles Times, the league is on the hunt to find a temporary stadium in southern California to house one, potentially two NFL teams for the 2016 season, until a permanent stadium is built.

On Thursday, the NFL began issuing proposal requests to LA-area venues, including the Los Angeles Coliseum, located downtown, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Dodger Stadium.

Chris Hardart, NFL vice president of corporate development, confirmed the league's pursuit of a temporary home.

"It is part of the process and an effort to understand all of our options and have a well thought out plan if a team or teams were to be approved to relocate," said Hardart, who declined to identify sites other than the Coliseum and Rose Bowl that have received them. In the past, league executives have touted the viability of Dodger Stadium as a potential temporary venue.

Albert Breer of NFL Media reports Angel Stadium in Anaheim and the StubHub Center in Carson, also could be in play to host an NFL team or two.

NFL owners are set to meet on the Los Angeles topic during a special meeting in August. According to Breer, the league would like to start negotiations with these potential sites in the coming months, possibly even in advance of confirmation a team is on the way.

During the August owners meeting, the league is due to receive status updates on both Los Angeles stadium projects -- Inglewood and Carson.

The Inglewood project, led by St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke, looks to be completed sometime in 2018. And the Carson project, partnered with the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers, won't be ready until 2019. 

With three teams still vying to move west, and the two stadium projects that accompany them, the league still has a lot to figure out.

After years and years of tugging at the heart strings of L.A. football fans, the NFL finally seems ready for a return.

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