The Chargers have received $3.2M from San Diego through their Qualcomm Stadium lease since '06 "because of various rent credits," according to city financial documents cited by David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. The Chargers "would have owed" the city $22.7M in total lease payments from '06-13, but the lease "requires the city to give the team large rent credits for concessions revenue, use of suites, parking, property tax rebates and other things." In addition, the team has "received a separate rent credit each year" because an '01 Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit "forced the city to remove 985 seats and make other upgrades to the 70,000-seat stadium." The city in response to the lawsuit agreed to make $5.3M in upgrades, "prompting the team to request and receive compensation for the reduction in seats and for the obstruction of views at some seats caused by the renovations." The stadium lease has "long been a source of public irritation, with critics saying the city has lost out in the current and past incarnations of the rental agreement." The city "would have paid the team even more if it hadn’t received" $2.3M in total bonuses for playoff games after the '06, '07, '08 and '09 NFL seasons (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/12).
TALKS PROGRESSING? San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer's Press Secretary and Dir of Media Relations Craig Gustafson said that Chargers President Dean Spanos on Thursday morning met with top city and county officials to "discuss progress on a possible new stadium for the team in San Diego." Gustafson: "It was a productive and positive meeting." Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani "confirmed Friday that the meeting took place but declined any further comment" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/9).
