Horn points Chargers north for stadium

County Supervisor Bill Horn says the solution to the Chargers' search for a new home is in his North County district.

Horn said at yesterday's Board of Supervisors meeting that the team should focus on developing a stadium on property along the Interstate 15 corridor, in the area from state Route 78 north to the Riverside County line.

The broad swath includes undeveloped land near the interchange of I-15 and state Route 76 that was formerly owned by Hewlett-Packard, but Horn said he doesn't have a specific location in mind.

“I'd be happy to have the Chargers in North County ,” Horn said. “There is land available on either side of the corridor. I'd be willing to help them.”

A stadium in that vicinity would help the team draw fans from Riverside and Orange counties and would be in proximity of 9 million people, said Horn, who is chairman of the Board of Supervisors this year.

His comments came before the supervisors voted 5-0 to hire legal and financial consultants to advise them on football stadium talks with the Chargers.

Supervisor Dianne Jacob said Horn's suggestion should be considered. Jacob and Supervisor Ron Roberts make up a board subcommittee handling Chargers stadium issues.

“Everything is on the table,” Jacob said. “The Chargers are looking everywhere (in the county). We should have a short list in the not so distant future.”

Mark Fabiani, the Chargers' attorney and spokesman on stadium issues, said the team was not aware of the site.

“We'll figure out where that is and we'll look at it,” Fabiani said.

The board has said it wants to help keep the National Football League team in the San Diego region as long as taxpayers benefit. Chula Vista and National City officials have told the team they may be willing to work out a stadium deal.

“Any proposal has to make financial sense for the taxpayers,” Jacob said. “Otherwise we'll take our football and go home.”

Yesterday's unanimous vote on the consultants allows the county counsel to hire outside lawyers and the chief administrative officer to employ financial advisers who are experts on stadium issues.

No cost guidelines were adopted because the consultants will be hired by competitive bid.

The supervisors emphasized that the action does not mean they will spend taxpayer money on a new stadium.

Under a 1997 board policy, supervisors cannot spend taxpayer money on a stadium or to renovate an existing one without the consent of county voters. The policy can be amended or repealed by the supervisors.

At the urging of Mayor Jerry Sanders, the San Diego City Council voted last month to allow the Chargers to look outside the city, but within the county, for a stadium deal. Under the Chargers' lease with the city for Qualcomm Stadium, the team can hold relocation talks with any U.S. city beginning Jan. 1.

The lease allows the team to leave San Diego after the 2008 season by paying off the balance of $60 million in bonds the city issued in 1997 to expand Qualcomm Stadium.

The mayors of San Antonio and Las Vegas have said they are interested in the Chargers moving to their cities. Los Angeles and Anaheim officials also want an NFL team.

Fabiani has said the Chargers prefer to remain in San Diego County .