The SDSU West initiative is preferred by a majority of likely San Diego voters over the competing SoccerCity measure, according to a new poll.
A new SurveyUSA poll commissioned by the San Diego Union-Tribune and 10News gauged citizen opinion of the two initiatives, which will appear on the November ballot. Backed by Friends of SDSU, SDSU West calls for the redevelopment of the SDCCU Stadium site in San Diego’s Mission Valley, which would be converted into a development that includes a new San Diego State University football stadium and surrounding amenities. It proposes the sale of 132 acres for the development, which includes a stadium that would be constructed with an initial capacity of 35,000 with the ability to host college football and professional soccer matches. It could also be expanded by 20,000 seats to house an NFL team.
It is on the ballot with SoccerCity, a plan from FS Investors to redevelop the same site. SoccerCity calls for a new stadium that would house an MLS expansion franchise, along with surrounding development. FS Investors would enter into a 99-year lease with the city for 233 acres at the stadium site, plus 20 acres at the Chargers’ former training facility. (More on that proposal here.)
With the election just weeks away, the new poll finds stronger preference among likely voters for SDSU West (Measure G) than for SoccerCity (Measure E). More from the Union-Tribune:
Measure G, the SDSU West Initiative, would have the city sell 132 acres of land to San Diego State University. Some 57 percent of respondents said they are in favor of the measure; 26 percent said they were against it and 17 percent are unsure of where they stand.
That compares to 32 percent of locals who said they supported Measure E, the SoccerCity initiative that would have the city lease 233 acres at the stadium site and 20 acres at the Chargers’ former Murphy Canyon facility to investment firm FS Investors. Some 48 percent of respondents said they were against the measure and 20 percent are still undecided.
The poll surveyed 618 likely city of San Diego voters between Oct. 7 and Oct. 10. The margin of error is plus or minus five percentage points on the voting questions.
In the upcoming Nov. 6 election, city voters can vote yes on both, no on both, or yes on one and no on the other. If both initiatives receive more than 50 percent of the vote, the measure with the most votes will prevail. If neither passes the threshold, the city would likely solicit proposals for redevelopment of the site.
There is time for things to change, but with the election approaching–it will be held three weeks from tomorrow–this poll provides a sense of how the initiatives could stand in comparison to each other.
SDSU football is currently playing at SDCCU Stadium, but both redevelopment plans call for demolition of the aging facility. We took a closer look at the SDSU West initiative in a story from our own Kevin Reichard last week.
Image courtesy of Friends of SDSU.