Group Extends Hand to Chargers
A representative of the San Diego Chargers said Wednesday the franchise has been formally approached about relocating to Los Angeles but, for the moment, plans to focus on negotiations to stay in San Diego.
Mark Fabiani, a political strategist recently hired by the Chargers, said the team was contacted Tuesday by the Philip Anschutz-backed group interested in building an NFL stadium in the South Park area of downtown Los Angeles.
“We told them our first priority is to stay in San Diego,” Fabiani said. “We have discussions going on with the city, and we want those to have a chance to succeed. We have a lot of work to do in the next couple of months.”
A spokesman for Anschutz Entertainment Group declined to comment on the development.
Fabiani said the Chargers intend to talk to the Los Angeles group at some point, possibly mid-summer.
The Chargers are the front-runners among a number of relocation candidates, including New Orleans, Minnesota, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Buffalo. Under the terms of their Qualcomm Stadium lease, the earliest the Chargers could move would be after the 2003 season.
Fabiani’s disclosure came a day after San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy released an April letter from the Chargers that stated the team met the conditions last year to trigger an escape clause in its lease and expects to do so again this year. As long as certain salary-related conditions are met, the Chargers have a two-month window in which to trigger the clause, beginning Dec. 1.
“I firmly believe it is in the best interests of both the city and the Chargers to begin negotiations now, rather than forcing the Chargers to trigger the contractual renegotiation right,” Charger President Dean Spanos wrote in the letter, dated April 22.
Spanos, whose family owns the team, said last week his first choice is to stay in San Diego, as long as the Chargers stay financially competitive with other NFL teams. That financial health depends heavily on a team’s stadium deal, and Spanos said Qualcomm Stadium--which will host the Super Bowl in January--is outdated and insufficient. He also ruled out the notion of refurbishing the venue.
“I don’t think that works,” he said. “It would cost you so much to refurbish and make the stadium good, it would be better to start all over again.”
Spanos said he learned roughly six months ago that a coalition of Los Angeles business leaders was interested in a downtown stadium. He was told of the proposal when the Chargers were working out the details of moving their training camp to Anschutz’ $120-million sports complex being constructed in Carson.
“There were several discussions about the possibility of a downtown stadium,” Spanos said. “Very informal discussions. More conceptual in nature.
“Generally speaking, I think the performance and history [of the Anschutz group] speaks for itself. Based on their record alone, you have to respect them.”
In a related development this week, the Los Angeles City Council formed an ad-hoc committee to evaluate any stadium proposals and all other aspects of an NFL return.
