Pechanga Arena in San Diego "could soon be under new management," as the city recently began "soliciting offers from companies seeking to potentially replace AEG when its lease expires" in May '20, according to David Garrick of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. AEG, which pays the city $800,000 a year to operate the 53-year-old venue, home to the NLL San Diego Seals, said that it "remains interested in running the arena and will respond to the city’s request for proposals." AEG officials last year indicated that they "hoped to secure a lease extension with the city of five to seven years, but the city is only offering a three-year deal in the request for proposals, which was issued April 23." San Diego officials have been "cautious about agreeing to long-term leases in the area around the arena, which city officials have called ripe for a massive redevelopment project that could include construction of a new sports arena." The naming-rights deal with Pechanga Resort & Casino is "set to expire simultaneously with AEG’s lease" next May. The Pechanga deal would "automatically be extended if AEG signs a new lease with the city to operate the arena" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/10).
