By Miriam Raftery
September 29, 2017 (San Diego) – With the Chargers gone, Friends of SDSU has announced a ballot initiative to transfer the former Qualcomm Stadium (currently SDCCU) to San Diego State University to become the SDSU West Campus Research Center.
SDSU West plans would be developed with public participation, though plans include a joint-use football stadium at no-cost to taxpayers, as well as 34 acres of public park land along a to-be-revitalized section of the San Diego River. It could also include educational, research and technology programs “within a vibrant, mixed-use campus village and research center,” states the website at https://sdsuwest.org/.
The plan allows for inclusion of other potential sports partners that might include professional or another soccer team and be adaptable for the NFL should San Diego ever get another pro football team.
Friends of SDSU is described as a coalition of SDSU alumni, business and community leaders with major funding from Ed Blessing and Jack McGrory.
SDSU has had limited expansion ability due to lack of land near its existing campus and the city’s plan to close the Mission Valley stadium site late next year would negatively impact the SDSU Aztecs, who play there.
Under the plan, the city would not be responsible for any stadium upgrades, operating costs, demolition, maintenance or other expenditures, though the city could lose some potential revenues from the site in the future.
The measure will be out for signatures to place it on the ballot 21 days after a notice of intent is published Saturday.