Once the Chargers officially stated their intention to go after a Downtown stadium site it was widely assumed they would try to ride the citizens’ initiative drafted by attorney Cory Briggs to a solution. However, there is one very large thorn in the side of that idea:
It’s not legal.
According to California law, after an initiative has been drafted and submitted to the public for signature gathering, nothing in the initiative can be changed. We’re talking nary a crossed “t” of dotted “i.”
The Briggs initiative began the signature-gathering process in November of 2015 so if that one makes it to a vote in November of 2016 it’s going to be about a Convention Center expansion alone. However, the Chargers are going to keep their drive towards Downtown on track by using a different tactic.
“We are continuing to work with JMI and the Citizens' Initiative/Briggs/Frye coalition on various approaches, and we continue our regular dialogue with the City of San Diego,” said Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani, who continues to work on the stadium situation. “As a result of all of these discussions, we hope to have a conclusion to present to the public within the next two weeks, at the latest.”
What that very likely means is they’re crafting a brand new citizens’ initiative. Remember the Chargers have set up a target date of March 24 to have an initiative composed. Trying to start something much later than that puts the signature-gathering process (and chances of getting anything on the November 2016 ballot) in jeopardy.
Fabiani also said the conclusion they come to will include a full financing plan for the proposed new facility. Since the Briggs plan for the Convention Center is going to ask for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Mayor Faulconer has said from the start he would not support a tax increase for a stadium there are rumblings that the Bolts have found a way to finance the stadium using 100% private funding.
That would likely be possible if they can get Goldman Sachs, the financial giant that was on board to finance the Chargers’ proposed Carson stadium, to help again. The franchise has already approached Goldman Sachs to ask if they can assist in some capacity with a Downtown San Diego stadium.
If the team is able to draft its own plan and get the signature gathering process started by the end of March they plan on staging a full public relations blitz, something the team admits will be expensive, to help the voters of San Diego understand the proposal and mend as many fences as possible with what is still a largely disgruntled fan base.
