Landon Donovan on Friday took to Facebook Live to announce he has "joined FS Investors, the ownership group looking to land" an MLS team in San Diego, according to ESPN FC. The group, which includes Padres co-Owner Peter Seidler and former Qualcomm Vice Chair Steve Altman, has the "exclusive negotiating rights" with MLS to bring a team to San Diego. The league is "expected to designate expansion cities this fall" (ESPNFC.com, 3/4). YAHOO SPORTS' Jackie Bamberger wrote Donovan is "seeking input on a potential name for the franchise." The options have been "narrowed down to 50, and there are some real winners in the bunch." The "leading candidate" in an online poll is Footy McFooty Face, which "pays homage to a classic meme." They also have "some subtle and not-so-subtle digs at the recently departed Chargers (San Diego Loyalty, San Diego Chargers)" and President Trump (San Diego Bad Hombres). Of course, it "wouldn’t be a San Diego-based list without an 'Anchorman' reference or two (San Diego Burgundy, San Diego Classy)" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/3).
ON A MISSION: FS Investors Founder Mike Stone said that he would "abandon" plans to build a stadium that could house San Diego State's football team "if a superior plan surfaced." In San Diego, Kevin Acee noted FS Investors is "set to launch a signature-gathering drive this month for an initiative that would allow it to develop a portion of the land in Mission Valley that currently houses Qualcomm Stadium and its parking lot." Stone noted the "support the project seems to have from city leaders." Stone added that he "believes the project will continue to resonate with voters." Acee noted the initiative calls for FS Investors to "acquire rights to 79.9 acres at fair market value, minus costs the group would accrue demolishing Qualcomm Stadium, developing the parkland and upgrading infrastructure." Stone also said that a public referendum on the initiative "could work as long as it occurred in time to meet the MLS deadline for determining its expansion franchises" for the '20 season (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/4).
