Rams Expected To Hold Spring Practices In Oxnard

OXNARD (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Rams will hold their spring practices in Oxnard, following an approval Tuesday night by the Oxnard City Council.

The Rams will  hold their organized team activities and mini-camp in Oxnard on the same field used  by the Dallas Cowboys for their training camp, which typically begins in July. The Rams have access to the facility from March 28 through June 24.

"We will begin our off-season training on April 18, which will be the first time our team assembles as the Los Angeles Rams," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said in a recent letter to Rams fans. "We fully expect this will be the beginning of a season that sees us compete for the NFC West title."

Rams fan Kaelia Franklin said she's be excited have the team hold its spring practices so close to home.

"I was a Rams fan from way back," she said.

Spring practices typically involve conditioning exercises and light-contact drills and are held before training camp.

The Rams lease will generate just under $100,000 for the city of Oxnard.

Oxnard Assistant City Manager Scott Whitney told KCAL9's Serene Branson the deal was a "win-win all the way around."

The Rams are also in negotiations to use the Marriott Residence hotel located next to the fields for housing and meeting space. The Cowboys also use those spaces for their training camp.

"It's really exciting," Rams fan Colin Burgess said. "I think it would be very nice for Oxnard as a whole."

Fisher said a location has not yet been finalized for the team's training camp, which will begin in July and will also be held in the Southland.

The Oxnard site is not on the table for the Rams, since the Cowboys have exclusive rights to hold their training camp at the location through 2017. (The Rams attended joint-practices with the Cowboys in August -- one of which erupted into a brawl). Rams training camp will be free and open to the public, Fisher said.