San Diego officials said that they are "committed to building a new Chargers stadium" and are open to "any ideas the team proposes, but no new alternatives have emerged and recent discussions with the team have lacked momentum," according to David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer "hasn’t unveiled any innovative last-minute stadium proposals, instead focusing on his openness to any proposed solution or stadium location, and his commitment to help any proposal overcome political and regulatory hurdles." Four City Council members last week sent Chargers Chair Dean Spanos a letter "asking him to reconsider Mission Valley for a new stadium." City Council member Scott Sherman said that he has "no plans to make any additional unsolicited offers or proposals before the team makes its decision" on a possible relocation to L.A., but that he "wishes the Chargers would begin discussions with the city immediately." San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts said that there is "strong desire among local leaders to engage the team in negotiations, or at least dialogue." However, Roberts said that "no new alternative offers have emerged, there isn’t much communication between the elected officials who could help broker a deal and the team’s ownership, and that he knows of no additional meetings that are scheduled" (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 12/20).
SENSING A SOLUTION: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic wrote moving the Chargers to L.A. "makes little or no sense for several reasons, especially for the NFL." Keeping the team in San Diego "is a better idea." One solution to keeping the Chargers in the city would be to "overhaul Qualcomm Stadium," which is "compelling but probably not workable." Done right, a renovation would "boost revenues, provide fans much better amenities and preserve the huge tailgating lot that so many folks enjoy, regardless of their income level." Krasovic: "Doubt the remodel can happen. The Spanoses want the new car smell." The "best idea of the rest" then is to "build a small stadium downtown" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/20).
