In 1946, Cleveland Rams moved to LA, signifying the start of NFL teams moving west. Three questions here: Is it okay if I use "bespeak" instead of "signify" in this sentence? I've looked them up in the dictionary to see if there's any difference in their meanings, but to no avail. What I am trying to say here is that NFL teams started to move west after the year 1946 when a team from Ohio decided to move to the West coast. Based on the context provided, is it correct to say something like that? I would like to know if there's a better way to express the meaning here, but I want to make it sound formal.

the start of sports teams moving from the East to the West

English Language & Usage Asked on November 26, 2020

In 1946, Cleveland Rams moved to LA, signifying the start of NFL
teams moving west.

Three questions here:

Is it okay if I use "bespeak" instead of "signify" in this sentence? I’ve looked them up in the dictionary to see if there’s any difference in their meanings, but to no avail.
What I am trying to say here is that NFL teams started to move west after the year 1946 when a team from Ohio decided to move to the West coast. Based on the context provided, is it correct to say something like that?
I would like to know if there’s a better way to express the meaning here, but I want to make it sound formal.

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