A proposal that includes a new San Diego State University stadium will be considered by voters, as it has been sent to the November ballot.
Over the last several months, a campus support group has been pushing for a plan called SDSU West. To be developed at the site of SDCCU Stadium in Mission Valley, the proposal would include a new SDSU stadium, along with about 1.6 million square feet of office space, over 4,500 housing units, roughly 95,000 square feet of retail, a 50-acre community river park, and two hotels.
Backers of the project had worked to gather enough signatures to have it placed on the city ballot in November. That process led to Monday’s San Diego City Council meeting, where council members voted unanimously to send it to the November 6 ballot. It will be one of two concepts on the ballot regarding the SDCCU Stadium site, going up against SoccerCity. That proposal from FS Investors that includes a stadium for an MLS expansion franchise and surrounding development. SDSU was at one point pitched on the idea of sharing the proposed stadium within SoccerCity, but ceased negotiations last year.
In the scenario in which both proposals are on the ballot, the one with support from the greater majority of San Diego voters will move forward. Should both fail to achieve majority support, then the future of the city-owned SDCCU Stadium site would be turned back over to the city council. With those stakes, backers of both projects are expected to make their cases over the coming months. More from The San Diego Union-Tribune:
SoccerCity spokesman Nick Stone said his side’s alternative “offers much more” to the public than the SDSU West plan.
“Unlike the vague concept put forth in the developer-drafted SDSU West initiative, the detailed SoccerCity proposal provides something for everyone: 35 acres for SDSU to grow and flourish, a vast river park, an exciting sports-and-entertainment district and a new stadium for Major League Soccer and Aztec football — all at no cost to taxpayers,” Stone said in a statement.
Several development companies’ executives, some with properties in Mission Valley, are members of the Friends of SDSU group formed to draft and campaign for SDSU West.
The university itself cannot legally come out for or against such a ballot measure. But SDSU spokeswoman Gina Jacobs said the campus conceptual plan issued last year will result in parkland, a stadium suitable for both football and soccer and housing.
The proposed SDSU stadium that is included in the SDSU West plan would be constructed with 35,000 seats, offering the capability to host college football for the Aztecs and professional soccer matches. Furthermore, the stadium could be expanded to offer an additional 20,000 seats and more luxury boxes in the event that the NFL returns to San Diego.
SDSU football is currently playing at SDCCU Stadium, but its lease only runs through the 2018 season. SDSU has shown interest in extending its lease until a new stadium is ready, but no agreement has been reached to this point and some officials have made the case for shutting down the aging SDCCU Stadium once the current lease expires.
Rendering courtesy Populous and San Diego State University.