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Chargers and City new stadium talks
CommentsThe Chargers and new mayor Kevin Faulconer have moved closer to discussing a new stadium project, reports ESPN's Eric D. Williams.
Faulconer said he wants to keep the Chargers in San Diego, but will not do so at the taxpayers' expense.
"The Chargers are incredibly important to the city and the region," Faulconer said. "I firmly believe that it's incumbent for everyone to work together. My main priority is going to be ensuring that any proposal that moves forward protects us as taxpayers here in San Diego. That will be my guiding principle. But I'm confident that we can achieve that."
Williams reports of "preliminary conversations" on the Chargers' new stadium proposal between the mayor's office and representatives of the Chargers.
Ultimately, the new mayor will join the conversation.
"We're certainly going to be beginning the dialogue soon," Faulconer said. "Ultimately, it's one that I'm convinced that has to involve the greater San Diego community. And I look forward to playing a role in that.
"When you look at the success that Petco Park has had in the community, the opportunity for a new stadium has to be an entire package that makes sense for San Diego. That's my job as mayor."
The Chargers' propose a $800 to $900 million, football-only facility east of Petco Park.
The stadium would seat as many as 70,000 for Super Bowls.
According to Williams, selling off the parcels of land at the Qualcomm Stadium and Sports Arena sites "could generate the city's financial contribution to the project without raising taxes, along with creating new tax revenue from the development of the land."
It is not clear whether the mayor's office considers that a financially accurate projection.
San Diego council president Todd Gloria represents the district where the stadium would be built in East Village.
"My sort of refrain has been where do you want to go? What it's going to cost? And how are you going to pay for it?" Gloria told ESPN, when asked about the Chargers plan for a new stadium. "It's three simple questions, but they're big ones, right?
"Their decades-worth of work has taken them to East Village, in my council district. And there are a variety of reasons why they got there. So I think the question now becomes how much does it cost, and how are you going to pay for it? When you have those things answered, then I think, like with these other big projects, they sink or swim based on the merits of the project."
Faulconer said he wants to keep the Chargers in San Diego, but will not do so at the taxpayers' expense.
"The Chargers are incredibly important to the city and the region," Faulconer said. "I firmly believe that it's incumbent for everyone to work together. My main priority is going to be ensuring that any proposal that moves forward protects us as taxpayers here in San Diego. That will be my guiding principle. But I'm confident that we can achieve that."
Williams reports of "preliminary conversations" on the Chargers' new stadium proposal between the mayor's office and representatives of the Chargers.
Ultimately, the new mayor will join the conversation.
"We're certainly going to be beginning the dialogue soon," Faulconer said. "Ultimately, it's one that I'm convinced that has to involve the greater San Diego community. And I look forward to playing a role in that.
"When you look at the success that Petco Park has had in the community, the opportunity for a new stadium has to be an entire package that makes sense for San Diego. That's my job as mayor."
The Chargers' propose a $800 to $900 million, football-only facility east of Petco Park.
The stadium would seat as many as 70,000 for Super Bowls.
According to Williams, selling off the parcels of land at the Qualcomm Stadium and Sports Arena sites "could generate the city's financial contribution to the project without raising taxes, along with creating new tax revenue from the development of the land."
It is not clear whether the mayor's office considers that a financially accurate projection.
San Diego council president Todd Gloria represents the district where the stadium would be built in East Village.
"My sort of refrain has been where do you want to go? What it's going to cost? And how are you going to pay for it?" Gloria told ESPN, when asked about the Chargers plan for a new stadium. "It's three simple questions, but they're big ones, right?
"Their decades-worth of work has taken them to East Village, in my council district. And there are a variety of reasons why they got there. So I think the question now becomes how much does it cost, and how are you going to pay for it? When you have those things answered, then I think, like with these other big projects, they sink or swim based on the merits of the project."
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