The Chargers "will pursue construction of a stadium and convention-center complex" in downtown San Diego, "sidestepping a proposal by Mayor Kevin Faulconer to replace Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley," according to a front-page piece by Dan McSwain of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. The team said that the project, which would go before voters in November, "would free the 166-acre Qualcomm site" for use by San Diego State and UC-San Diego, "along with a riverfront park." Faulconer, in a joint statement with San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, "reiterated his view that a Mission Valley stadium could be completed more quickly and without raising taxes." However, they "didn’t rule out supporting the team’s plan after they see financing and other details." Stadium point man Fred Maas "acknowledged that a downtown project faced political and financial hurdles." Yet Chargers Chair Dean Spanos "judged the quest as worthwhile." Maas said that the team’s "next step was to develop a financing and development plan" with JMI Realty, the hotel development company owned by former Padres Owner John Moores, which also built Petco Park. Under the team’s timeline to qualify for the November ballot, a full plan "must be finished in late March, with final language ready for signature-gathering to begin in April." The new Chargers concept "closely resembles" its '14 proposal with JMI "to build a hybrid stadium/convention center." Roberts said that the Chargers also "appear prepared to proceed without" $350M "secured by the city and county general funds that was proposed this summer" by he and Faulconer. Roberts said that the two "made clear in their meeting Monday with the team" that the $350M "was not available for a downtown project" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/24).
MILES TO GO: In L.A., Nathan Fenno notes the Chargers "used the ballot initiative process last year to bypass lengthy and expensive environmental review for the stadium they wanted to build" with the Raiders in Carson. That effort, however, "didn’t include public financing" (L.A. TIMES, 2/24). In California, Scott Reid notes should public funding for a stadium in San Diego be approved by Nov. 15, the Chargers "can request an extension" on their Inglewood option to Jan. 15, 2018 "to deal with potential litigation" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/24). In San Diego, Kevin Acee notes yesterday's announcement "was just the beginning of a contentious and possibly litigious process." The Chargers "know what they are in for." It came down to downtown "having more promise, if also possibly being more of a headache." Mission Valley "may have been easier," but downtown "is sexier." Acee: "The question is whether downtown will prove to be a forbidden fruit" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/24).
