I went to my first San Diego Charger game in old Balboa Stadium in 1965. I saw a game in what was then the new stadium in 1967. I lived in San Diego for 10 years beginning in ‘67, and went to many Charger and Padre games at the Mission Valley stadium. 40 years later, it is still the Charger home. Not for much longer.
Charger ownership wants a new stadium badly. The city of SD would like to build them one, but no money is available. After looking at several suburbs, the Chargers are now looking at a bayside power plant site in Chula Vista, south of the city, and near the Mexican border. That site, due to state regulators and cleanup laws, may not be available for at least 5 years.
The Chargers can get out of their lease after this upcoming season.
The Spanos family, who own the Chargers, claim that they wish to have a new stadium privately financed. Previous attempts to get a new stadium deal done in Oceanside, National City, and at the present Mission Valley site have failed miserably. A lot of verbal sniping has taken place between the city and Charger officials. The relationship between the two seems to be beyond repair.
After reading several Charger message boards, you get the idea that the fans’ general attitude is “Just get it done, but don’t bother us with details.” Talks between the team and the city of Chula Vista are cordial, but virtually no progress has been made, other than the Chargers committing to paying for several feasibility studies.
What all of this is adding up to is the fact that talks are not going well. In fact, it’s going to take a miracle to keep the Bolts in San Diego County. Consider:
San Antonio built the 65,000 seat Alamodome for an NFL team that never came.
L.A. developer Edward Roski, who helped build the Staples Center, owns enough land in suburban City of Industry to build a new football stadium. All he needs is a guarantee of a team. The NFL has said that expansion is not on the horizon, so it will have to be a relocated team.
Las Vegas political kingpin Oscar Goodman has told the Spanos’ to just say the word, and construction of a new football stadium on the Strip can begin in a matter of days.
The Chargers have some of the NFL’s most loyal and avid fans. As loyal and avid fans in Baltimore, Cleveland, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Houston can tell San Diegans, that can be rendered totally meaningless when a city and a team can’t see eye to eye.
Seems to me that the relocation of the San Diego Chargers is a matter of where, and just a matter of time.
Tags: Football, NFL, Pro Football, San Diego, San Diego Chargers, Sports
