• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Chargers Owner Wins Legal Battle As NFL Stands By

  • The sister of controlling owner Dean Spanos filed a petition to force a sale of the team in April.
  • The NFL hasn’t intervened, although it has expressed intentions to have case heard by arbitrator.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Los Angeles Chargers controlling owner Dean Spanos has already earned one victory this summer by getting his legal dispute with his sister, Dea Spanos Berberian, moved out of Los Angeles.

Spanos will win again if the National Football League successfully maneuvers to push the case outside a courtroom altogether. 

The NFL has held off intervening in the matter so far, although court documents show that the league backs Dean Spanos’ request to transfer the matter to arbitration as soon as Sept. 9.

An attorney representing the NFL wrote in a May filing that the NFL Constitution’s arbitration provision “requires that certain disputes pertaining to the ownership of an interest in a NFL member club be submitted to arbitration.”

The Athletic was the first outlet to report on the NFL’s intentions. 

  • In April, Berberian filed a petition in Los Angeles County in a bid to force a sale of the franchise, naming Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a possible candidate to purchase the team
  • The case was transferred to San Joaquin County, the Central Valley home of Dean Spanos, on Aug. 19. 
  • Berberian alleges that a sale of the franchise is necessary to pay off more than $353 million in debt, something his brother’s attorneys claim is not the case. 

Berberian, Spanos, and two of their siblings each hold 15% of the team, with the rest (36%) in a family trust. 

The Chargers moved from San Diego to L.A. in 2017, paying a $650 million relocation fee and leaving behind a fanbase it had developed for more than 56 years.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jun 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) drops back to pass during minicamp at their South Side facility.
opinion

Steelers Win-Now Mode Is Good News for NFL Media Partners

The conservative “Steeler Way” has finally adapted—and media partners are happy.
Jun 10, 2025; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) participates in a drill during an NFL football minicamp at NRG Stadium.

30 of 32 NFL Second-Round Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

Some rookie training camps start in under two weeks.
Stephen Ross
exclusive

Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Nears Deal to Buy Nearly Half of Miami..

Ross is set to own a minority stake in the tennis tournament.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Apr 10, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; (L-R) Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), Ovechkin's wife Nastya, and sons Sergei and Ilya watch a video during a ceremony honoring Ovechkin's becoming the NHL all-time goals leader prior to the Capitals' game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena.

Ted Leonsis Says His $7B Sports Empire Beats the NFL Model

Why synergy is the future of sports ownership.
July 9, 2009; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars during the press conference to introduce their new head coach John Kuester at their practice facility.
April 14, 2025

Joe Dumars Leaving NBA League Office to Run Pelicans

Joe Dumars was the architect of the 2004 champion Pistons.
April 25, 2025

The Former NBA Agent Who Became a Pickleball Deputy Commissioner

Chris Patrick went from representing Jimmy Butler to pickleball deputy commissioner.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
March 13, 2025

Junior Bridgeman Was the Prototype for Business Success After Sports

He started with Wendy’s franchises, later expanding into bottling, magazines, and more.
Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; A$AP Rocky on the sideline after halftime during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium.
February 27, 2025

A$AP Rocky Could Be Latest Celebrity Owner in English Soccer

Following his acquittal, the rapper is closer to owning Tranmere Rovers.
Oct 23, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley addresses the crowd during the Pat Riley Court dedication ceremony at halftime at Kaseya Center.
February 14, 2025

Here’s Where Pat Riley’s Three-Peat Trademark Money Goes

Riley has the phrase trademarked despite having no three-peat of his own.
Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters (L) talks with Commanders owner Josh Harris (R) on the field prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium.
December 4, 2024

CEO Leaves $13 Billion Soup Company to Run Commanders

The new president will lead the planning and development of the team’s stadium.