NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman after yesterday's meeting with members of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s task force said that the city's pursuit of a new Chargers stadium "lacks some key elements so far and might need an accelerated timeline," according to a front-page piece by David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Grubman said that "no stadium designs have been produced, no specific funding sources have been identified and support from the team hasn’t been secured." Grubman also called it "'very risky' to wait for a public vote on any financing plan until the next general election" in November '16, "suggesting this November or early next year -- which would require a special election -- would be more prudent." He said, “Time is slipping away.” However, Grubman "praised the enthusiasm of the task force and said his visit was prompted by its hard work since being formed in January." Grubman said that San Diego is "significantly behind two other cities -- Oakland and St. Louis -- that are also pursuing new stadiums." Garrick notes Grubman is "scheduled to update" the league’s six-owner L.A. committee next Wednesday "about progress on stadium efforts in St. Louis, Oakland and San Diego." Owners of teams in those markets "are scheduled to present detailed plans" about their L.A. proposals at the same meeting. Grubman also urged the San Diego task force and community leaders "not to give up" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/15). San Diego stadium task force Chair Adam Day said that the meeting with Grubman was "a positive step." In L.A., Tony Perry notes the task force "has promised to unveil a financing plan May 20" (L.A. TIMES, 4/15).
TIME IS NOT ON THEIR SIDE: Grubman told the task force if financing "depends on development around the facility (which is what the committee is counting on), it won’t work, because it will take far too long to get it done, and bringing in a developer would just mean another mouth to feed." In San Diego, Nick Canepa writes that news is a "major setback" for the effort in San Diego. Grubman also told the task force that the $200M contribution from the NFL to help finance a new stadium "would go to the team, not the city." Canepa writes it was "not a positive meeting," in fact, the task force's plan "may have been bludgeoned" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/15).
