The city of San Diego and San Diego County yesterday agreed to "jointly pay for experts to help negotiate a stadium deal with the Chargers, with county officials also discussing whether and how they might help finance the actual project," according to a front-page piece by David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. In separate "unanimous votes cast roughly four hours apart, the City Council and the County Board of Supervisors agreed to spend as much as $250,000 each hiring attorneys and consultants with stadium financing expertise." While such a preliminary move is "far from a guarantee" that both will "participate financially in building a stadium, leaders from both agencies said the deal sends a loud message that the region’s politicians are serious about getting a deal done if one is possible." County officials "offered varying opinions on how significant their participation might be in funding the actual stadium." They also discussed whether a countywide vote "would be necessary for them to contribute county revenues." County Supervisor Dave Roberts "expressed the least enthusiasm for the county participating financially." Roberts: “I support looking into this, but I don’t support any taxpayer money being used.” Supervisor Greg Cox "didn’t dismiss the notion of the county participating, but criticized recent suggestions that the county could use some if its reserves as a loan to jump start the project." Cox: "Under no circumstances would I want to see this county end up in a lending role." County Supervisor Bill Horn said that he was "open to creative financial ways for the county to help build the stadium, stressing that there are many options beyond a loan" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/8).
A HELPING HAND: NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman yesterday on a conference call with San Diego stadium task force Chair Adam Day said that the league "would likely contribute" $200M toward a new Chargers stadium in Mission Valley. In San Diego, Lori Weisberg notes the conference call "was a prelude to an in-person meeting" between Grubman and a smaller group of task force members that is scheduled for next Tuesday (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/8).
TAKEN TO SCHOOL: In St. Louis, David Hunn reports St. Louis Univ. law professor and legal clinic supervisor John Ammann and three students "have demanded the city of St. Louis reveal plans to use public money to pay for a new downtown football stadium, and schedule a public vote, or expect a lawsuit." Ammann said that "any city assistance -- even vacating streets -- will trigger a city law requiring a public vote" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/8).
