The Chargers' effort to garner support for a tourism tax hike to help finance a $1.8B stadium and convention center in downtown San Diego got off to a "raucous, upbeat start" on Saturday, as an "estimated 4,000 people showed up to the signature-gathering campaign," according to a front-page piece by Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. That the "positivity was predictable didn't make it any less impressive or make it any more significant," as it was the "start of a long process." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance and said that the new venue would be the "perfect place for a Super Bowl." Acee noted the Chargers are "selling the project as more than a stadium," and the expanded convention space will "be a significant part of their stumping." Chargers Chair Dean Spanos was "vociferously cheered, though a smattering of boos were also heard as he walked to the lectern to speak." Spanos said, "We have a tough road ahead of us. We have several big objectives we have to complete before the end of the year." Acee noted the applause for Goodell was "tepid and also mixed with boos, but many fans also expressed gratitude" for him coming to San Diego for the event and "took his attendance as a sign of his commitment" to the NFL in the market. Goodell: "If I can play a constructive role, I want to be here." Spanos said of the crowd, "It far exceeded what I thought would be here" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/24).
PATIENTLY WAITING: San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who did not attend the event, said that there is "much to like" about the Chargers' plans, but he "still needs much more information before weighing in" on the project. In San Diego, Weisberg & Acee noted answers are needed "to a long list of questions" that Faulconer has about the project's financing and "potential risks" to taxpayers. Faulconer said, "This would be the largest bond offering in the city's history. My job is to get all the facts." Some San Diego City Council members, as well as reps of the city's convention and hospitality industry, also said that they are "reserving judgment on the look of the stadium project until they can get more specifics." Much more "willing to speak out in favor of the Chargers' stadium plan were San Diego's construction unions, who joined the team at a press conference Friday" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/23). ESPN.com's Eric Williams noted the Chargers now "have to qualify the measure for the ballot, which requires 66,447 valid signatures certified by the office of the registrar by mid-June, and present it to the San Diego city clerk's office before ultimately having it approved by the city council." The team's goal is to "collect 100,000 signatures over a six-week period, creating a buffer in order to have enough signatures certified" (ESPN.com, 4/23).
GETTING EVERYONE INVOLVED: In Boston, Ben Volin noted this is the "first time we can remember that Goodell played such an active role in helping a team get support for a publicly-funded stadium, and a clear sign of the NFL's desire to keep the Chargers in San Diego rather than have them bolt" for L.A. Volin, referring to Chargers QB Philip Rivers and former NFLer LaDainian Tomlinson, wrote, "We don't recall active players getting involved in many other stadium projects, either" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/24).
