The San Diego Chargers will become the second National Football League (NFL) franchise to move to Los Angeles in a year, and will start the 2017 season in the city.

Dean Spanos, chair of the Chargers, said Los Angeles was a “remarkable place”, but the team had a “remarkable amount of work to do” to establish the franchise there.

Building a new stadium in the Hollywood Park district of the city will be the franchise’s next priority, but will play at the 30,000-capacity StubHub Center until work is complete.

The Chargers originally played in LA during its first season of existence in 1960, but spent the following 56 years in San Diego on the California/Mexico border.

Spanos said San Diego would “always be part of our identity”.

“My family and I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the support and passion our fans have shared over the years,” he added.

Fans who have paid deposits on 2017 season tickets will be fully refunded, although a number staged an angry protest at the decision outside team’s headquarters.

Last year the Chargers competed with the St Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders to play in Los Angeles. The Rams won that particular contest, becoming the LA Rams last season.