Rams owner Stan Kroenke still has hurdles to clear if he wants to move his team to Los Angeles, but his ownership of Denver NHL and NBA teams are no longer one of them.
Via Nathan Fenno and Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, owners approved a cross-ownership plan, which transfers control of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche to his wife, Ann Walton Kroenke. That’s Walton as in Wal-mart, and her personal fortune is estimated at $4.6 billion. Their son Josh will run the hockey and basketball teams.
The league doesn’t allow an owner to own an NFL team in one city and another pro sports franchise in another. This deal was a condition of Kroenke buying the Rams in 2010, and these things take some time because of the complexity of estate law.
But if his deal was approved, it’s at least an acknowledgement that he’s doing what it takes to make peace, since a group of owners appear to be blocking his attempt to move the Rams to L.A.
The Times also reports that Kroenke and Chargers owner Dean Spanos discussed potential Southern California stadium locations during a 2013 dinner meeting, though nothing has come of those talks.
Some degree of sharing a stadium might be necessary, depending on how the league proceeds with divvying up the pie that is Los Angeles.
