Voter skepticism that San Diego would get an "economic boost from a downtown stadium and convention center annex is a significant hurdle for the Chargers ballot measure," according to sources cited by David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. A poll shows that the initiative, Measure C on the Nov. 8 ballot, "gained a bit of ground compared to a previous poll in early October and that it's notably popular among a relatively small group of people who have already voted by mail." However, Measure C is still trailing 52% to 48% among likely voters "who are certain which way they will vote, far short of the two-thirds support" required for approval. Doubts that the combined stadium/convention facility would be an "economic catalyst are playing a key role," with 95% of those opposed to Measure C saying that either it would "cost the city money, be a 'break-even' proposition or that they don’t know enough to say." That is despite the Chargers recently "releasing a study showing Measure C would bring an additional" $2.1B into the San Diego economy during construction and $400M per year afterward. In the poll, just 34% of likely voters said that Measure C "would bring additional money to the city" and 37% said that it would "cost the city money." The poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, also shows that support for Measure C is "far lower among whites than other ethnic groups and is supported far less by older voters than younger ones." The new poll surveyed 598 likely voters Oct. 14-17 "over land lines, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices." Measure C would "raise San Diego's hotel taxes" from 12.5% to 16.5% to help pay for the stadium (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/22).
DWINDLING ODDS: CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora noted Chargers ownership at last week's owners meeting gave a "brief update to the rest of the league ... noting the lack of support from council members for their downtown stadium project, and the bleak odds of winning a ballot initiative." Sources said that the team has been "unable to secure any support from a single city council member" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/23). A SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE editorial stated that the "prospect of San-Diego's much-loved football team leaving for L.A. has never felt more real." The proposal "seems straightforward: Build it or they will go" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/21).
WE CAN MOVE ON: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic noted skateboarder Tony Hawk, a native to the area, last week appeared on HBO's "Any Given Wednesday" and "urged viewers to vote against Measure C." Hawk said, "I love the Chargers, but if they go, we still have the beach, the zoo, Blink-182, Mexico, sunshine, Nick Cannon, Comic-Con and me, Tony Hawk." The clip "runs nearly six minutes and is narrated by sports media personality Bill Simmons," who tells his Twitter followers that Chargers Chair Dean Spanos is the "latest wealthy sports owner trying to brainwash everyone else into paying for his new stadium" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/22).
