San Diego State Univ. yesterday "broke off discussions" to share a soccer stadium in Mission Valley, saying the proposal from La Jolla developers "does not meet the athletic and academic needs of the campus," according to a front-page piece by Roger Showley of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. SDSU has been in talks with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer to "jointly use a 30,000-seat stadium proposed" in the $4B SoccerCity redevelopment of Qualcomm Stadium property. The proposal is "contained in a ballot initiative headed to the City Council next month and a possible special election Nov. 7." SDSU in a statement urged the city "'to pursue a transparent RFP process' ... 'to develop a plan that will accomplish the community's vision for this vital property and serve the San Diego region for decades to come.'" Development group FS Investors, which is seeking a new MLS franchise to play in the stadium, had "previously discussed a joint-use concept that would have SDSU contribute" $100M toward the stadium and then "receive the facility as a donation after five years." Campus officials said that a 30,000-seat soccer/football stadium is "too small in the long run and it would cost too much to add another 10,000 seats as FS Investors has proposed." FS Investors said that if SDSU "does not partner in the project, it will revert to its original plan for a 22,000-seat soccer-only stadium" and it would "not be engineered to accommodate a doubling in size if SDSU later changes its mind" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/17).
WHERE TO NEXT? The AP's Bernie Wilson notes SDSU will have "two years left at Qualcomm and could play" the '19 season at Petco Park. SDSU AD John David Wicker said that he "hasn't heard" from Padres Exec Chair Ron Fowler that playing at Petco Park beyond '19 is a "definite no." Wicker: "For the lifeblood of the program as a whole, we need a better solution than Qualcomm is today. We need to generate real revenue to move the needle of the athletic department" (AP, 5/17).
