San Diego, CA — A new coalition of San Diego businesses, fans and taxpayers has been formed to serve as a community voice in the ongoing discussions about the future of Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Chargers. The coalition, to be called the Fans, Taxpayers and Business Alliance (FTB Alliance), will work to support a fiscally responsible solution that can keep the San Diego Chargers in San Diego with a plan for a new stadium that can be funded without a negative impact on the City's general fund.

According to Adam Day, one of the founding members of the FTB Alliance, the goal of the new coalition will be to serve as a source of factual information about the stadium alternatives as opponents, as well as proponents, continue the public debate on this issue.

"With this new coalition, we hope to add a reasonable voice that can help the general public in San Diego get the complete facts about the benefits and risks of developing a new sports stadium for our region," said Adam Day, public affairs director, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. "Our view is that this is not about a stadium for the Chargers, it is about a stadium for the City, " Day continued. "The Chargers will just be the anchor tenant that will make it financially possible."

The Fans, Taxpayers and Business Alliance has a public web site that offers the community a broad perspective of information on the stadium question. The web site, located at www.ftballiance.org, includes information about all aspects of the stadium debate, background on the Chargers and team ownership, and links for citizens to contact the City Council and send letters to the local media. The web site will also allow citizens and other businesses to become supporters of the FTB Alliance and its efforts to keep the NFL in San Diego in a fiscally responsible manner. The Alliance plans to keep the web site updated with current information on stadium proposals.

In addition to the web site, FTB Alliance members will be active participants in the on going discussions and City hearings on possible stadium solutions.

"We are hopeful that the Chargers Task Force report will provide a roadmap for the City and the Chargers to move forward toward a positive solution to the stadium question," said Day. "We believe that the City has a tremendous asset at the Qualcomm Stadium site, an asset that could be redeveloped to create a world-class venue at that location or another that could serve as the home of the Chargers, the Aztecs and other major events for decades to come."

According to Day, the FTB Alliance will work to focus the public debate on the facts of the present and not on the mistakes of the past. "Fans, taxpayers and local businesses all have a vested interest in determining what is best for San DiegoÕs future. Sports fans want the Chargers to remain in San Diego. Taxpayers want to make sure that their tax dollars are used wisely and not wasted. Local businesses want to see the economic benefits, jobs and dollars that professional football, Super Bowls and other stadium events bring to the local economy," said Day.

Founders of the Fans, Taxpayers and Business Alliance include several major local businesses such as the Barnhart Corporation, San Diego Magazine, Cox Communications, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Wells Fargo Bank, Donovan's Steak & Chop House, Coca Cola San Diego, Anheuser Busch Sales of San Diego, Liquid Investments and 1^st National Bank of San Diego. The FTB Alliance plans to remain independent from the San Diego Chargers and the City but will seek information and input from both.

###

- Return to News Releases -