When did the Rams leave St. Louis? Inside franchise's topsy-turvy history

Originally known as the Cleveland Browns, the Rams were founded in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. After winning the 1945 NFL Championship Game, the team moved to Los Angeles in 1946 and was soon renamed the Los Angeles Rams.

Dan Reeves, the team's owner, believed that the West Coast's population had been increasing gradually and that there weren't many significant professional sports teams there, thus it was a calculated move to relocate there. The Rams also believed they could expand their name and status in Los Angeles in a manner that was not feasible in Cleveland.

Later, in 1995, the Rams relocated from Los Angeles to St. Louis, where they played for 21 years. However, following a protracted stay in St. Louis, Missouri, the team moved to Los Angeles in 2016.

Why did the Rams move to St. Louis in 1995?

Following their 1946 relocation from Cleveland, the Rams and the city of Los Angeles had a mutually beneficial partnership for many years. However, due to their lack of on-field success, declining attendance and owner Georgia Frontiere's desire to host games in an even more upscale venue, the Rams began searching for a new home in the late 1980s.

Initially, the team relocated from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to the close Anaheim Stadium. But when the Rams received NFL approval in 1995 to move to St. Louis, Missouri, they ultimately left the West Coast.

The franchise began playing extremely enjoyable football shortly after relocating to St. Louis, drawing fans from all over the nation. The Rams won their first-ever Super Bowl in 1999 after going 13-3 in the regular season.

Why did the Rams move back to Los Angeles in 2016?

The Rams franchise returned to Los Angeles in 2016 following a lengthy stay in St. Louis. They couldn't acquire the facility they wanted in St. Louis, so they had to return.

Stan Kroenke, the franchise's owner, started pushing to relocate the team back to Los Angeles after his demands for upgrades at the Edward Jones Dome were not fulfilled.

The Rams started hosting games at SoFi Stadium and made two Super Bowl runs, winning one, since coming back to Los Angeles.