The war of words between the Chargers and Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s stadium task force has no signs of ending anytime soon. It began when the Chargers teamed up with the Oakland Raiders to opt for a stadium in Carson, and it heated up when the task force selected Mission Valley as the site for the new stadium. The Chargers continue to favor a downtown site.
The issue has been vented through social media, email statements, op-ed pieces in the newspaper and one-sided appearances on television. Each side has said it is not personal, but statements indicate otherwise.
Chargers spokesman Mark Fabiani has maintained the stadium issue dragged on for years because the dysfunction at City Hall. On Good Morning San Diego, task force member Jim Steeg recently said, “What [Fabiani is] trying to do is show we’re divided.
“I think we’re unified in this point in time,” Steeg said. “I think what he’s trying to demonstrate at this moment is that we’re still dysfunctional and we’re not unified in what we’re trying to do, but we’ve got a leader in Mayor Faulconer, and the city council that’s supporting, and a county commission supporting.”
The Chargers do not see a financial path forward at Mission Valley, and the further fueled the debate.
“Mark has gone on this crusade since then, since CSAG has announced this site for a new multi-use stadium. He’s criticized this site behind the scenes and publicly, and he continues to lobby for downtown,” said task force member Tony Manolatos.
Then an op-ed piece by two task force members called for stripping revenues from the team to pay for the stadium. Fabiani said the point of a new stadium is to increase revenues.
Manolatos said Fabiani is trying to convince the NFL that Mission Valley is a nonstarter. “Mark Fabiani has basically had an issue with every turn in this process,” said Manolatos.
In a statement, Fabiani said that “All of the information that we are providing to the NFL owners and executives is taken directly from public statements made by the task force members.”
While this back-and-forth escalates, the Chargers are set to take 14,000 signatures to the Carson city clerk in support of a ballot initiative for a new stadium the Chargers would share with the Raiders.
Meantime, St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke laid out his stadium plan for Los Angeles at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix. His hope is to have the Rams playing in Los Angeles next year.
– KUSI