Former Padres Owner John Moores is leading "one of two groups investigating the prospects of owning" an MLS club in San Diego, according to Mark Zeigler of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. That "might solve the stadium conundrum facing San Diego State’s football team if or when the Chargers relocate." Former state legislator Steve Peace, now an advisor to Moores, "confirmed their 'interest' in MLS, both as a tenant in a new mid-sized facility (possibly on the redeveloped Qualcomm Stadium site in Mission Valley) and a Stateside partner" for EPL club Everton, which Moores is in the process of acquiring. The identity of the other group looking at MLS in San Deigo "is unknown." A league source "confirmed the renewed interest in San Diego." But the source said that the discussions were "very preliminary." Moores was in "regular contact with the league from its inception" in '96 and helped bring the '99 MLS All-Star Game to Qualcomm Stadium "as a test run (which didn’t go well)." Now-defunct Chivas USA "flirted with locating its MLS expansion franchise at the Q, holding formal meetings with stadium and city officials, before fatefully deciding to share the Home Depot Center" with the Galaxy. There are "three options apparently being considered by the two investment groups: downtown, Chula Vista and Mission Valley." Downtown "likely would be part of a convention center expansion." Chula Vista "would be an ideal site for a stadium," but the location is 10 miles from Tijuana's Liga MX plays, and that team is "popular in South Bay." Peace said that Moores' group has had architects analyze the Qualcomm Stadium site "both as a reconstruction and renovation project" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/28)
