The Chargers are going to go through the motions of supporting a downtown stadium, but the way it unfolded probably tells the real story.
They stated their commitment to a downtown project on the same day that they secured an option to move to Los Angeles, which means if you don’t vote for their plan, they will leave.
Here is Dan Fouts narrating their sales pitch:
The funding plan for the project will go before voters in November. It calls for an increase in the city’s hotel room tax along with contributions from the Chargers and National Football League.
“This project would not impose any new taxes on San Diego citizens,” Fouts said in the narration.
“Instead, it would be paid for by tourists, convention-goers and out-of-town business people staying at local hotels,” he said. “What could be sweeter than Raiders, Broncos and Patriots fans all helping pay for the project when they pay their hotel bill?’
Because of the tax hike, the project will require the Chargers’ initiative to gain two-thirds voter support in the election.
“It’s been heartwarming to see how many people have embraced our vision for downtown,” team Chairman Dean Spanos said at the end of the video.
ugh…..just leave already.
I’m all for the downtown stadium. But with one stipulation…
The Spanos family must sell controlling interest in the Chargers before the stadium is built.
If the stadium was pitched this way I bet they’d get a 75% vote. On top of that we’d have new ownership focused on improving the product by winning.
We’re voting “No” on both ballot initiatives. This corporate welfare scam has been going on here in San Diego for way, way too long! Well, no more!
If a billionaire wants a new stadium, then he should pay for it out of his own pocket. If he doesn’t want to risk that much, then he should get a group of private investors together and have them pay for it.
Otherwise, if this were such a profitable venture, how come they’re not doing so???
Seems to me like they want to privatize profits and make any loses be paid for by the public!
Well, we’ve got way, way more pressing issues that are in dire need of those public monies and whatever is already generated by our higher than average tourist taxes should go to pay for the infrastructure needed to keep San Diego “America’s Finest City”, otherwise it’s just lip service.