The new stadium plans to be uniquely L.A. (Rendering by Manica Architecture)
A coalition made up of business and community leaders in Carson, Calif., has announced plans for a $1.7-billion stadium to potentially host two National Football League teams. The group, Carson2gether, held a press conference Friday, Feb. 20, where renderings for the stadium, designed by Manica Architecture, were revealed.
Though National Football League’s Oakland (Calif.) Raiders and San Diego Chargers bought a 168-acre piece of land near the 405 freeway at the end of January, both teams are working with their current locations on plans to upgrade existing stadiums.
“We have both been working in our home markets to find a stadium solution for many years, so far unsuccessfully. We remain committed to continuing to work in our home markets throughout 2015 to try to find publicly acceptable solutions to the long-term stadium issue,” said a joint statement from both teams.
In addition to not finding a solution in their hometowns, the Raiders and the Chargers would need the go-ahead from the NFL, with any Los Angeles relocation application requiring approval from three-fourths of NFL owners, in order to proceed with any relocation plans.
The proposed stadium would host both the Chargers, currently in San Diego, and the Raiders, currently in Oakland. (Rendering by Manica Architecture)
“We are pursing this stadium option in Carson for one straightforward reason: If we cannot find a permanent solution in our home markets, we have no alternative but to preserve other options to guarantee the future economic viability of our franchises,” the statement continued.
It outlined two tracks that the teams will pursue in 2015.
“On track one, we will continue to work in our home markets to find permanent stadium solutions that are publicly acceptable. On track two, we will work in Carson to preserve our options, and the future economic viability of our franchises, in the event that our efforts in our local markets fail.”
Mark Fabiani, Chargers Special Counsel, told Chargers.com that supporting the stadium proposal does not mean that the team is planning to relocate, just that it’s keeping options open after years of local efforts. The team has presented nine proposals in about a decade, to seven different mayors, for a new facility within San Diego County with no forward movement.
“During that same period of time, the Chargers worked hard to build its business in Los Angeles and Orange Counties — areas that have been without NFL teams for the last two decades,” said Fabiani, adding that one-fourth of season-ticket holders are from the two counties.
Fabiani said that the team felt pressured to take action following an announcement of a stadium plan in Inglewood, Calif., backed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke and reported on here by Venues Today.
“It would be untenable to have one and potentially two teams in Los Angeles while the Chargers are left to continue playing at Qualcomm (Stadium, their current home) — with no alternative in sight. The team’s economic future would be jeopardized,” he continued. “That is why the Chargers have chosen to support the Carson2gether initiative campaign — to preserve all of our options and ensure that we have a certain path to protect the long-term viability of the franchise.”
Carson2gether released a video of the new stadium plans.
In addition to the NFL’s support, the Carson stadium plan would also need public approval from the city of Carson, with Carson2gether planning to begin a petition to add a stadium proposal to an upcoming ballot or go directly to the Carson City Council for approval by ordinance. In order to bring the proposal to the ballot, Carson2gether would need 8,041 signatures from registered voters in the Carson community.
“Right now, our focus is on convincing the community that this is a good project for their community. They will benefit by it and we should move forward with it,” stated Carson2gether spokesperson Fred MacFarlane at the news conference.
Other community and political leaders spoke, assuring the community that no public funds would be used to build the new facility, though financial details were not released.
“This is not going to be at the public’s expense,” said U.S. Representative Janice Hahn. “This will be privately financed. This is not going to be taxpayer dollars.”
“This is the city of Carson coming together — business, political, religious — saying we want you here. Chargers, come on down.”
The stadium design is still in its conceptual stages, with a current planned capacity of 68,000 expandable to 72,000. The plan is still in very early stages, competing with four other potential NFL stadium plans in the county.
“I know we’ve gone down this road before with NFL teams and I know, let’s be honest, this is about the cities of San Diego and Oakland working with their teams, but we want the Chargers to know and we want the Raiders to know that if you can’t work it out with your cities, we welcome you with open arms here in Carson,” said Hahn. “We will give you a beautiful new stadium and we will give you fans like you have never had before. We will be loyal. We will be enthusiastic. We will come to all the games and we will root you on.”
Contact: Janice Hahn, (310) 831-1799; Mark Fabiani, (858) 874-4500; Fred MacFarlane, carson2gether.com
(Rendering by Manica Architecture)