Nixon Peabody Managing Dir Chris Melvin, San Diego’s chief stadium negotiator, yesterday "explained the city’s strategy" for a new Chargers Stadium to NFL officials during a one-hour meeting in N.Y., according to David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO-UNION TRIBUNE. The meeting came one day after Mayor Kevin Faulconer "had a 45-minute phone conversation" with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. San Diego and NFL officials said that yesterday's face-to-face meeting "went well and that both sides expect to have a follow-up meeting in San Diego next month." Melvin has "helped negotiate several other NFL stadium deals on behalf of both teams and government agencies." San Diego officials requested yesterday’s meeting "one week ago when the Chargers broke off negotiations." But instead of focusing on getting the Chargers to resume bargaining, the meeting in N.Y. "was a more general discussion of the stadium proposal San Diego’s negotiating team has been working on." NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman said, “It was intended as an introductory meeting and an overall outline, and it served that purpose.” Grubman said he expects a second meeting with city reps "toward the end" of July, about two weeks before the owners meeting in Chicago (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/24).
THE CLOCK IS POLITICKING: In San Diego, Nick Canepa asks of Chargers Chair Dean Spanos, "Are you leaving or staying?" If Spanos is "merely playing out the tired song," he should "stop it now and say so." Spanos should "stand up and proclaim: 'It’s been nice. Thanks for your support for 55 years. I tried, but I’m done. This will be the Chargers’ final season here.'" Canepa: "I would hate that statement. ... But I, at least, could understand it. What I don’t understand is: Why continue to put us through this? Why the figurative torture?" The task force "did its level best with a truncated timetable." Faulconer "is trying." City attorney Jan Goldsmith "is trying," as is County Supervisor Ron Roberts. These are "pretty damn good people." But Spanos and Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani "believe they’re politically motivated." Canepa: "So what? They’re elected officials. They deserve to be treated with respect. This isn’t Obama-Putin. They haven’t invaded the Ukraine. ... If you're not serious, say so" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/24).
