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It's Official: Chargers Ditching San Diego For LA

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — The Chargers are moving to Los Angeles after more than five decades in San Diego.

Team owner Dean Spanos announced the move in a letter posted on Twitter, saying "Today, we turn the page and begin an exciting new era as the Los Angeles Chargers."

The Chargers have called San Diego home since 1961 and have played in Qualcomm Stadium, formerly Jack Murphy Stadium, in the city's Mission Valley area since 1967. Qualcomm is the fourth-oldest NFL stadium in the league.

Spanos told KCAL9's Jim Hill he expects the team will need to work hard to win fans in Los Angeles.

"We're going to have to build our fanbase up over the next several years," Spanos said. "This is not something that's going to happen overnight."

The Chargers last called Los Angeles home in 1960, when the team began AFL play.

In moving to Los Angeles, the Chargers will exercise an option to join the Rams in 2019 at the Inglewood Stadium. The Chargers have also signed a tentative agreement to lease a building and about three acres of land in Costa Mesa.

RELATED: Chargers React To LA Move

While the Inglewood stadium is under construction, the Chargers will play their home games at StubHub Center in Carson - which would be the league's smallest venue - according to ESPN.

Fans can go to FightForLA.com to place a refundable $100 deposit on season tickets for the 2017 season. Current Chargers season ticket holders will maintain their ticket-buying priority and will not be required to make a deposit.

The $100 deposit will allow fans to reserve up to four seats at StubHub, which, at 30,000 seats, can accomodate less than half the capacity of the Chargers' long-time home of Qualcomm Stadium.

It wasn't immediately known how much on what tickets will cost at the new venue.

RELATED: Report: Chargers To Hire Anthony Lynn As Head Coach

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti welcomed the move.

"L.A. already has more visitors than ever before. The Chargers will make our NFL tradition even richer, and give sports fans everywhere one more reason to be in Los Angeles," said Garcetti. "I congratulate Dean Spanos and the entire Chargers organization, and look forward to the extraordinary contributions they will make to our entire region."

Inglewood Mayor James Butts also expressed excitement.

"This brings not only twice the number of football games," he said. "It brings more people into the area."

(TM and © Copyright 2017 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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