| Why do we need a new stadium?
Qualcomm Stadium has served the public and the Chargers well. But it is past its prime as a modern venue.
We Need a Desirable Venue
- Qualcomm Stadium, originally named San Diego Stadium when it was built in 1967 is one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL.
- A new Stadium in San Diego would mean a world class venue for America's Finest City to be able to host world class events.
- San Diego has enjoyed a longer useful life for its stadium than any other city.
- Every NFL team has either changed stadiums or had major renovations done to their stadiums at least once since Qualcomm Stadium was built .
- Green Bay spent $295 million to renovate Lambeau Field
- Chicago spent $365 million to renovate Soldier Field
- Cities that have lost teams because they have not built new stadiums have spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to attract new teams.
- St. Louis spent $281 million to attract the Rams.
- Cleveland spent $212 million to attract the Browns.
- Houston spent $309 million to attract the Texans.
- Baltimore spent $200 million to attract the Ravens.
- Need to develop economically competitive facilities. Qualcomm Stadium falls short of new NFL stadium standards:
Concourse Widths
- Main Concourse: Qualcomm: 16' from back of seats to amenities. New NFL: 60' average from back of seats to amentities.
- Club Level Concourse: Qualcomm: 20'. New NFL: Club concourses are designed integrally with lounges totaling 90,000 square feet per side including hotel lobby high level finishes. New facilities also offer separate convenience entrances for premium patrons.
- Upper Level Concourse: Qualcomm: 18' from amenities to outboard railing. New NFL: 50' average from amenities to outboard railing.
Toilet Facilities
- New stadiums typically double current provisions at a minimum. Separate family toilets are also provided.
ADA Provisions
- New facilities make full provisions for the disabled patron by providing 1 percent of the seats in all seating types available for wheelchair patrons.
Suite Size
- Suite size in new NFL facilities is typically 40-50 feet deep with entertainment and bar areas and toilets in each suite
- The NFL will not award San Diego future Super Bowls unless a new stadium is built. Super Bwl XXXVII (2003) generated $193 million in direct spending and $366 million in sales volume for the City of San Diego .
- There are currently 85 events per year at Qualcomm Stadium, only 10 of these events are for the Chargers. In a new venue there is the potential for considerable increase of events, such as:
- The Super Bowl, Holiday Bowl, San Diego State football, high school football, rodeos, circuses, Olympic trials, NCAA Championships (track, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey), motor sports, major league soccer, concerts, conventions, meetings, etc.
- “The Chargers are becoming less and less financially competitive with the team's NFL rivals. In the mid 1990s, the Chargers were in the middle of the pack on the NFL's revenue chart. Today, the team has fallen into the bottom quarter of all NFL teams. Forecasts indicate that this fall is likely to continue. The reason for the precipitous decline is simple: In the last decade, 21 new stadiums have been constructed or are in development around the country. And as these stadiums have generated more revenue for their teams, the Chargers have fallen further behind.”
Quote From: Mark Fabiani in an address to the Chargers Task Force on August 29, 2002.
Please click on the questions below to read the answers to these frequently asked questions:
- Why do we need a new stadium?
- Why not renovate Qualcomm Stadium?
- Why didn't the last renovation work?
- Why should taxpayers participate?
- What are the stadium needs of SDSU Aztec football?
- What is the revenue history at Qualcomm Stadium?
|
