Backers of SDSU’s campaign to build a new stadium and campus in Mission Valley turned in 106,134 signatures from voters on Tuesday, putting the initiative on track for the November ballot.

The effort needs 71,646 valid signatures from voters to be eligible.

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters now will work to verify the signatures on a 30-day deadline. Then, the city council has the option to place the issue on the ballot.

Workers for Friends of SDSU were still taking signatures through this weekend, leading opponents to question if the effort had enough support.

SDSU’s signature turn-in: Here’s the full story

The Friends of SDSU campaign committee turned in 106,134 signatures from voters on Tuesday, putting its initiative calling for a new stadium and campus complex in Mission Valley on track for the November ballot.

The group of San Diego State University boosters launched its petition drive on Oct. 21, asking voters to back a vision for redeveloping the former Chargers stadium acreage.


San Diego State’s proposal calls for a new 35,000-seat stadium for Aztecs football, along with offices, housing, hotels, retail and parks on the massive city-owned site.

“Today is a very exciting day for the Friends of SDSU, for San Diego State University and the community of San Diego,” said Fred Pierce, a Friends of SDSU steering committee member and a past president of the college’s alumni association.

“We’re pleased to announce we have achieved indeed a pretty key milestone,” Pierce said during a press conference in front of the San Diego County registrar of voters office.

More than a dozen volunteers carried 31 boxes of signatures into the county office, where they were handed off to San Diego City Clerk Liz Maland.


1 / 8 Supporter Kathleen Czech, left, and San Diego City Council member Barbara Bry, center, help carry boxes of the more than 106,000 signatures into the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 8 Friends of SDSU steering committee member Fred Pierce speaks before he and other supporters submit boxes of signatures for the SDSU West Initiative to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 8 Friends of SDSU steering committee member Fred Pierce speaks before he and other supporters submit boxes of signatures for the SDSU West Initiative to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 8 Boxes that contain some of the more than 106,000 signatures by San Diego voters for the SDSU West Initiative that the Friends of SDSU will submit for a 2018 ballot at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 8 San Diego City Council member Barbara Bry speaks before he and other supporters submit boxes of signatures for the SDSU West Initiative to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 8 Supporters Jeff Marston, left, and Bill Hammett help carry boxes of the more than 106,000 signatures for the SDSU West Initiative into the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 8 San Diego State alumnus, and former SDSU quarterback from 1998-2003, Lon Sheriff helps put boxes of the more than 106,000 signatures for the SDSU West Initiative on a cart at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 8 City clerk Elizabeth Maland moves a cart holding some of the boxes of signatures for the SDSU West Initiative after members of the Friends of SDSU submitted the boxes at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

“San Diegans have long called for an alternative that transforms the Mission Valley stadium site for the benefits of all residents,” Councilwoman Barbara Bry said at the press conference.

“SDSU West officially answers that call today.”

There’s a competing stadium ballot measure, SoccerCity, which San Diegans will also vote on in November.


The SoccerCity proposal is backed by a group of La Jolla investors who want to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the city. They would build a 22,500- to 33,500-capacity stadium, plus offices, housing, hotels, retail and parks.

The initiative that gets the most votes will prevail. If neither gets 50 percent of voters’ approval, both would fail — and the city would likely go back to the drawing board.

The SDSU effort needs 71,646 valid signatures from voters to be eligible.

What’s ahead is likely a hard-fought battle for public opinion. Both sides say there are drastic differences in the proposals — even though the two land plans look largely similar from the 30,000-foot level.


A few of the key departures: SDSU’s plan is a broad outline, with the details to be negotiated with the city if this plan prevails. SoccerCity’s details are in the ballot language and therefore can’t change after election day — for good or for bad.

Also, SoccerCity is proposing to build more retail, what backers are calling an entertainment district. The extra square footage means that SoccerCity projections show higher overall traffic numbers than for SDSU.

SoccerCity vs. SDSU: A comparison of plans »

Stadium competition: What 2 traffic studies tell us »


“I think the right road is the high road. I’m interested in talking about the merits of our project,” Pierce said. “In some instances, we have to point out the shortcomings of the other option, so people can understand the differences.”

Workers for Friends of SDSU were still taking signatures through this weekend, leading opponents to question if the effort had enough support.

“Signature gathering gauges the level of public enthusiasm. Given that it took the developers behind SDSU West nearly six times as long as SoccerCity to gather their signatures, it’s clear that public support is with SoccerCity,” the SoccerCity group, FS Investors, said in a released statement on Tuesday.

“We look forward to this November’s public vote.”


The San Diego County registrar of voters will now work to verify the signatures on a 30-day time clock. Once certified, the city council has the option to place the issue on the ballot.

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jen.steele@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @jensteeley