The battle over the 166-acre Mission Valley parcel in San Diego formerly occupied by the Chargers is one being "waged with money provided by some of the city’s most powerful entities," according to Jennifer Van Grove of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. SoccerCity and San Diego State Univ. West each "seek to redevelop the Mission Valley site with a stadium, housing, commercial projects and a public park along the San Diego River." As it stands, the plans are "slated to appear on the November ballot, barring last-minute action from the state appellate court." In the most recent quarter, the SoccerCity campaign "raised" $1.27M in cash, with around 41%, or $521,586, contributed by FS Investors Founder Michael Stone. During the same period, the campaign spent $1.25M, with "television ads and production costs" eating up 40%, or $500,000, of total expenses. Meanwhile, SDSU West, the campaign from San Diego State boosters calling themselves “Friends of SDSU,” "raised $199,210 in the second quarter of the year." Friends of SDSU spent $179,380 in the "same three-month period, and its largest cost was $60,000 paid to digital strategy firm IVC Media" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/2).
