The San Diego Traveler

Chargers to Find a New Home

by Carole A. Lane on January 29th, 2007

Now that San Diego has resigned itself to the fact that the Chargers won’t be in playing the Super Bowl in 2007, and rumors of Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer’s dismissal have been put to rest, there’s one more pressing issue that affects the Chargers’ future here in San Diego. Where will they play?

Qualcomm Stadium

The Chargers have been playing in Qualcomm Stadium (originally named San Diego Stadium, and later Jack Murphy Stadium) since it was built for them by the City of San Diego in 1967. 

In 1984, the Stadium was expanded to nearly 61,000 seats and 50 suites were added at a cost of $9.1 million.

In 1997, the Stadium was again expanded when 10,500 seats, 34 suites, and 4 Club Lounges were added (bringing seating capacity to 70,561), along with upgraded food service, two video boards, and a new practice facility for the Chargers.  The total cost of this expansion was $78 million, of which Qualcomm paid $18 million, in exchange for stadium naming rights which expire in 2017. 

For several years, the city of San Diego, along with the Chargers, explored alternative plans for rebuilding the stadium.   When they couldn’t find a development partner willing to risk the upfront costs, they dropped the plans.

Qualcomm Stadium current location

San Diego, facing a $1.43 billion pension deficit, decided to amend their exclusive negotiating rights, allowing the Chargers to talk to other cities within San Diego county through 2006.  As of 2007, they can speak to cities outside of San Diego county as well. 

If the Chargers pay off the remaining $60 million in debt incurred when the stadium was expanded in 1997, they could leave as early as the end of the 2008 season.

Possible Locations

San Antonio and Las Vegas have each expressed an interest in speaking with the Chargers, and the NFL would like to move a team to Los Angeles or Anaheim.

The Charger’s development plan includes a stadium and a second site for a project that could be a mix of housing, entertainment venues, offices, restaurants, a hotel and retail outlets.  Money from that project would pay the stadium costs, so the location selected must accommodate both a stadium and a second development.

Before negotiating outside of San Diego county, the Chargers are considering three sites within the county.

Chula Vista

Map showing Chula Vista

Hoping to keep the Chargers in San Diego county, Chula Vista began their pursuit of the team last May.  Chula Vista has several sites inland and near the bay where a stadium or commercial project could be built.  They are hiring a consultant who will evaluate sites for ownership, environmental issues, transportation accessibility, size and other criteria. In a second phase, the consultant will pare the possible locations to the ones that are most suitable, according to the council’s guidelines.  The Chargers will pay an estimated $200,000 for the consultant, along with staff costs for Chula Vista employees.

National City

Proposed National City Cite

National City has joined in the race.  The site that they’ve chosen is owned by the Port of San Diego, and runs along the waterfront West of I-5 and South of Bay Marina Drive.  A study has been conducted, deeming the site feasible, however The Working Waterfront Group, is protesting, stating that a stadium is inconsistent with maritime use and could cost jobs. 

The stadium site will require several parking garages, freeway on-ramps and off-ramps, the realignment of trolley tracks and possible construction of a trolley station – improvements that could cost more than $400 million.

Oceanside

Recently, the Chargers expressed an interest in opening negotiations with Oceanside.  Oceanside sits midway between the city of San Diego and Orange County, and is accessible by two freeways.  Trains also run to Oceanside from Los Angeles and Orange Counties in the North and from San Diego in the South.  The new Sprinter will bring additional patrons to Oceanside from Escondido.  Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood summed it up in three words, “Location, location, location.”  Frankly, the Oceanside location is much more accessible.

After preliminary meetings, Oceanside’s 71.7-acre Center City Golf Course (nicknamed Goat Hill) was chosen as the potential site for the stadium, along with an adjoining four acres north of the golf course.

Center City Golf Course in Oceanside

Oceanside held a public meeting last week, and after two hours, a slight majority over the speakers were in favor of the stadium being built in Oceanside. 

Councilman Rocky Chavez said, “The question is whether the Chargers support the economic vision we have for tourism.”  Negotiations with the Chargers are expected to continue.

The Next Step

Mark Fabiani, the Chargers’ general counsel, said the team hopes to zero in on one site sometime this year and put a ballot measure for a privately funded stadium before voters in the November 2008 general election.

Go Chargers!  No, wait!  Stay!

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