Chargers history
Posted on 15-06-2023 02:19 AM
Chargers history
San Diego Chargers History
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS HISTORY
Does anyone know much about the Chargers' history of switching between Los Angeles and San Diego (and back again)?
Its inaugural season was in Los Angeles in 1960, followed by 51 years in San Diego from 1961 to 2017. To us, and many San Diego locals, the Chargers still feel like a San Diego team, even after they relocated back to Los Angeles. Getting back to their history and how they came to be, let's discuss.
The Chargers Football Team
Specifically, the Chargers are a football team based in Southern California. American Football Conference (AFC) West Division club of NFL (National Football League).
I don't mind if all you recognize here is the NFL. In general, the Chargers are a professional American football team. California has three National Football League teams: the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Oakland Raiders.
Since their founding on the West Coast in 1961, the Chargers have moved around stadiums and cities several times.
Let's start with the Los Angeles Chargers
In 1960, the franchise played its first season in Los Angeles. It was the first AFL (American Football League) charter member. A rumor began circulating after the team's inaugural season about moving to Atlanta, Seattle, or nearby San Diego.
As a result of a 1961 deal, the Chargers were to play their home games at San Diego's former Balboa Stadium in Balboa Park.
Become the San Diego Chargers
Petco Park
The Chargers moved to San Diego after their first season in 1961 and remained there until 2017. We San Diegans have been calling the Chargers home for over half a century.
Aside from 1961 and 1966, the team played its home games at Balboa Stadium until San Diego Stadium was constructed in 1966 and became the team's home field thereafter.
The San Diego Chargers are in the American Football League
The team won their first and only AFL championship on January 5, 1964. San Diego Chargers beat New England Patriots 51-10 in Balboa Stadium. There has been no other league championship season in the ABA or NFL for the Chargers.
The Bills lost a heartbreaking home game to the AFL title game in 1965, as the Buffalo Bills won the AFL title.
The San Diego Chargers won Super Bowl XXIX
As a result of the merger between the AFL and NFL, the team joined the NFL in 1970.
In 1994, the San Diego Chargers won their first and only AFC championship game during their time in the NFL, and they faced the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Despite the best efforts of the Chargers, they lost 49-26.
More San Diego Stadium Changes
Jack Murphy Stadium was named in 1981 in honor of the late sportswriter who championed the construction of San Diego Stadium.
As part of the Qualcomm Corporation's $18 million purchase of naming rights in 1997, the stadium changed its name once again to Qualcomm Stadium.
The team made multiple attempts to secure a new stadium as recently as November of 2016. The city's leaders finally proposed a referendum to allocate millions of tax dollars to a new stadium. As soon as this proposal was rejected by San Diego voters, the team began making plans to move out of the county altogether.
Accordingly, the Chargers announced on January 12, 2017, that they will be moving back to Los Angeles after 56 seasons in San Diego. Having completed their inaugural season there in 1960, it was like a kind of full-circle moment.
The San Diego Chargers Stadium: What Happened?
The stadium became San Diego State University's after the Chargers left. The San Diego County Credit Union purchased the stadium's naming rights in September 2017, renaming it the SDCCU Stadium. The stadium was the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team from 2006 to 2019, when the project to demolish the stadium began in December 2020. The outer structure was removed in March 2021.
As a whole, the demolition project went well and made room for the new Snapdragon Stadium, which is home to the San Diego State football team. Compared to the previous stadium, the new one is smaller, which is more suitable for college football teams.
So, did you get that? From Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to San Diego Stadium, Jack Murphy Stadium to Qualcomm Stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park to StubHub Center, the Chargers moved onto SOFI Stadium.
The End of An Era
Although the Chargers returned to Los Angeles after 56 seasons in San Diego, they were a longtime sports staple there. The Chargers still have many fans who are proud to say that they saw them play in the old San Diego Stadium, even though they miss having our very own NFL team.
Currently, they compete in the West Division of the AFC (American Football Conference). Isn't it true that we all have to band together to deal with (some of) our sports here in California?
My fans do not come for me.
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