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Nov 25
2009
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Chargers Moving Forward on Downtown Site and Other UpdatesPosted by Jason Riggs in Untagged |
Recent Stadium Updates – 12.01.09
Q: Is it true the Chargers are working closely with the City of San Diego on securing a Downtown site for their new stadium?
A: Yes. The Chargers organization and local leaders – including Mayor Sanders and Fred Maas of the CCDC – have been in discussions for several months regarding property near Petco Park. The site currently consists of 15 acres where the Wonder Bread building, Tailgate Park and a San Diego Transit bus yard currently reside.
The Chargers have moved forward with several important steps including the hiring of key consultants and a design firm which is encouraging as it shows that this site is quickly gaining momentum.
Nonetheless, several financial and logistical obstacles remain, but the Chargers are especially interested in this site as it removes approximately $200M from the $1B total price tag thanks to existing infrastructure.
Public support for this plan will be critical to keep it moving forward, but this is extremely promising by all accounts and the San Diego Stadium Coalition is committed to gathering public support behind this effort.
Q: Are the Chargers still in discussions with the City of Chula Vista regarding the construction of a new stadium in that region of the County?
A: No. With the recent Iraq deployment of Councilman and City of Chula Vista point-person John McCann in addition to the numerous ob¬stacles associated with the most viable sites in Chula Vista, the Chargers have suspended discussions with the City for now to focus on other options within the County. If, in the future, the City of Chula Vista succeeds in shutting down an existing power plant, and City Officials are interest¬ed in re-starting discussions with the team, the Chargers have indicated that they would re-open negotiations at that time.
Q: Is it true that the Chargers are still exploring the possibility of building a stadium in Oceanside?
A: No. Several months ago, the team engaged in discussions with Thomas Enter¬prises which is a large credible developer. Thomas Enterprises currently has City approval to build 950,000 square feet of retail space on roughly 90 acres along State Route 76 in Oceanside between Foussat Road and Mission Avenue. However there were several obstacles standing in the way including FAA regulations regarding the nearby municipal airport. The airport would have to be closed and flight traffic redirected to nearby Palomar Airport for this area to become a viable stadium site.
Another property near I-5 in Oceanside known as the Goat Hill property currently houses a golf course. This site has also entered the stadium discussion. However, the Chargers recent financial feasibility study of the Goat Hill property showed it to be incompatible with their privately-funded-stadium plan.
Nonetheless, the team continues to explore these and other sites as potential ancillary development options that could help fund a stadium in another part of the County.
Q: Is the Escondido stadium effort still moving forward?
A: No. The City of Escondido has suspended their effort to bring the Chargers and a new stadium to that region while the team moves forward on their Downtown effort. However, the Mayor and local civic and business leaders have indicated that they will resume this effort in the event that the Downtown site doesn’t materialize.
Q: Is the State of California is considering a purchase of the current Qualcomm stadium site as part of a plan to expand the San Diego State Campus?
A: Yes. Mayor Jerry Sanders and SDSU President Stephen Weber have met in recent months on the possibility of the University using the land to solve significant problems facing both entities. The proposal, which is still in the preliminary stages, would not directly impact the Qualcomm stadium structure, however, It does, call for displacing some of the 18,000 parking spaces to make way for student and faculty housing, research facilities and a riverfront park. If approved, this further removes the current stadium site in Mission Valley from the list of potential options and would create a more de¬finitive timeline for the team’s relocation to remain viable. This recent development has potentially troubling implications for the Chargers re¬gardless of its impact on the Qualcomm stadium structure itself.
Q: When will The Chargers again have an option to leave San Diego County?
A: The Chargers remain committed to staying in San Diego County, however, they can explore a relocation deal with other cities between February 1st and May 1st each year until their lease with the City expires after the 2020 season. This process of searching for a new stadium site will not continue indefinitely and it is reasonable to believe that at some point in the near future, when all options within San Diego County have been exhausted, the team will begin looking to other regions. Nonethe¬less, their commitment to remain in the County is clear when you factor in the nearly 8 years and over $10M that they’ve invested in their search for a new stadium site.
Q: Is it true the Chargers are working closely with the City of San Diego on securing a Downtown site for their new stadium?
A: Yes. The Chargers organization and local leaders – including Mayor Sanders and Fred Maas of the CCDC – have been in discussions for several months regarding property near Petco Park. The site currently consists of 15 acres where the Wonder Bread building, Tailgate Park and a San Diego Transit bus yard currently reside.
The Chargers have moved forward with several important steps including the hiring of key consultants and a design firm which is encouraging as it shows that this site is quickly gaining momentum.
Nonetheless, several financial and logistical obstacles remain, but the Chargers are especially interested in this site as it removes approximately $200M from the $1B total price tag thanks to existing infrastructure.
Public support for this plan will be critical to keep it moving forward, but this is extremely promising by all accounts and the San Diego Stadium Coalition is committed to gathering public support behind this effort.
Q: Are the Chargers still in discussions with the City of Chula Vista regarding the construction of a new stadium in that region of the County?
A: No. With the recent Iraq deployment of Councilman and City of Chula Vista point-person John McCann in addition to the numerous ob¬stacles associated with the most viable sites in Chula Vista, the Chargers have suspended discussions with the City for now to focus on other options within the County. If, in the future, the City of Chula Vista succeeds in shutting down an existing power plant, and City Officials are interest¬ed in re-starting discussions with the team, the Chargers have indicated that they would re-open negotiations at that time.
Q: Is it true that the Chargers are still exploring the possibility of building a stadium in Oceanside?
A: No. Several months ago, the team engaged in discussions with Thomas Enter¬prises which is a large credible developer. Thomas Enterprises currently has City approval to build 950,000 square feet of retail space on roughly 90 acres along State Route 76 in Oceanside between Foussat Road and Mission Avenue. However there were several obstacles standing in the way including FAA regulations regarding the nearby municipal airport. The airport would have to be closed and flight traffic redirected to nearby Palomar Airport for this area to become a viable stadium site.
Another property near I-5 in Oceanside known as the Goat Hill property currently houses a golf course. This site has also entered the stadium discussion. However, the Chargers recent financial feasibility study of the Goat Hill property showed it to be incompatible with their privately-funded-stadium plan.
Nonetheless, the team continues to explore these and other sites as potential ancillary development options that could help fund a stadium in another part of the County.
Q: Is the Escondido stadium effort still moving forward?
A: No. The City of Escondido has suspended their effort to bring the Chargers and a new stadium to that region while the team moves forward on their Downtown effort. However, the Mayor and local civic and business leaders have indicated that they will resume this effort in the event that the Downtown site doesn’t materialize.
Q: Is the State of California is considering a purchase of the current Qualcomm stadium site as part of a plan to expand the San Diego State Campus?
A: Yes. Mayor Jerry Sanders and SDSU President Stephen Weber have met in recent months on the possibility of the University using the land to solve significant problems facing both entities. The proposal, which is still in the preliminary stages, would not directly impact the Qualcomm stadium structure, however, It does, call for displacing some of the 18,000 parking spaces to make way for student and faculty housing, research facilities and a riverfront park. If approved, this further removes the current stadium site in Mission Valley from the list of potential options and would create a more de¬finitive timeline for the team’s relocation to remain viable. This recent development has potentially troubling implications for the Chargers re¬gardless of its impact on the Qualcomm stadium structure itself.
Q: When will The Chargers again have an option to leave San Diego County?
A: The Chargers remain committed to staying in San Diego County, however, they can explore a relocation deal with other cities between February 1st and May 1st each year until their lease with the City expires after the 2020 season. This process of searching for a new stadium site will not continue indefinitely and it is reasonable to believe that at some point in the near future, when all options within San Diego County have been exhausted, the team will begin looking to other regions. Nonethe¬less, their commitment to remain in the County is clear when you factor in the nearly 8 years and over $10M that they’ve invested in their search for a new stadium site.