Officials in San Diego are continuing to push for a redevelopment plan that includes the site of Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers.
As the Chargers set their sights elsewhere, talk in San Diego has heated up over plans for the Qualcomm Stadium site, which would become a part of a San Diego State University (SDSU) expansion. That plan would introduce several campus amenities would to the area, including a 35,000-seat stadium that would host SDSU football and potentially an MLS expansion franchise.
In light of the Chargers’ measure for a new stadium/convention center being rejected by voters on Tuesday, some in San Diego, including state senator Marty Block, want to accelerate the push for a Qualcomm Stadium/Mission Valley redevelopment. More from the San Diego Union-Tribune:
At the news conference, Block was flanked by placards that showed conceptual designs of what a redeveloped site could look like.
A 35,000 seat stadium — about half the capacity of Qualcomm — was on the northeast corner, with faculty housing was on the southeast corner. Curved buildings circled a round open space area and other buildings throughout the site were reserved for SDSU housing and professional and university research labs.
The entire site is 167 acres, which would provide more than enough space for the buildings and 30-acres of open space connected to the river valley, said Vincent Mudd, a managing partner with Carrier Johnson. The architecture firm created the renderings for JMI Realty.
“If you going to invest in the public, one of the best investments you can make is in education,” he said.
In previous remarks, Chargers owner Dean Spanos has said that the team has no interest in remaining at Qualcomm Stadium or Mission Valley. While planners of the SDSU expansion say that the Chargers could always be included in the project, there are still numerous questions about the team’s next step. Some San Diego officials have expressed an interesting in reviving stadium talks with the Chargers, who have an option to move to Los Angeles that expires in January.
RELATED STORIES: Dean Spanos Says No to Mission Valley; Fans Polled on New San Diego State Stadium