San Diego State provided details Thursday on how a proposed 35,000-seat stadium in Mission Valley could be expanded to 55,000 seats to accommodate an NFL franchise.

John David Wicker, SDSU director of athletics, announced the details during an afternoon news conference held at SDSU’s Viejas Arena.

× SDSU provides details on how 35,000-seat stadium could grow to 55,000 to accommodate an NFL team.

“Along with our partners at Populous and JMI Sports,” Wicker said, “we knew we needed to ensure our Aztec Stadium site could accommodate an NFL venue should an owner want to build at SDSU Mission Valley.”


The big question: Is the NFL interested in returning to San Diego under these — or any — circumstances?

It is a question loaded with unknowns.

Interior of proposed SDSU multi-use stadium in Mission Valley. (SDSU Athletics / SDSU Athletics )

What is known is that NFL franchises always have wanted control of their venues, which all are larger than 55,000 seats.


Four NFL stadiums are shared by NFL and college teams — Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Miami — but in each instance the NFL team controls the stadium. (The L.A. Rams are temporary tenants at the Coliseum, which is operated by USC.)

There are two initiatives — the other is the SoccerCity proposal from FS Investors — on the November ballot for the Mission Valley site. The initiative receiving the most votes, provided it is more than 50 percent, is the one that would move forward.

If the election goes in favor of SDSU West, as the proposal from a group known as Friends of SDSU is called, then the university would own the land. It would present an unprecedented ownership situation in regard to an NFL franchise.

“It’s a conversation to have,” said Wicker, adding. “It’s a discussion. It’s a negotiation, perhaps. There’s an equity partnership at that point where you’re purchasing part of the stadium or the land or whatever it may be. There are so many ways you can do this.”


The SDSU West proposal calls for a 35,000-seat stadium that would cost an estimated $250 million. Wicker said their estimate is that construction costs to accommodate an NFL team would be an additional $750-$850 million.

“What we’re proposing is an NFL owner could come in,” Wicker said, “take the east side of the stadium and the two end zones, take them down to the ground, build out the service levels and stadium that they need while keeping all the premium amenities on the west side.”

Rendering of proposed SDSU multi-use stadium in Mission Valley, without potential expansion for NFL team. (SDSU Athletics )

SoccerCity’s proposal includes setting aside 16 acres for five years for a potential NFL stadium. After five years, SoccerCity could use the land for residential development.


“Ours doesn’t sunset in five years,” Wicker said. “Our opportunity to build an NFL stadium will be there as long as we have the site there.”

SoccerCity backers reiterated their idea that a joint-use stadium for Major League Soccer and SDSU football “makes sense and is good for our whole city,” with Nick Stone, project manager for SoccerCity, adding, “And certainly, the joint opportunity with MLS is a far more likely partnership than with the NFL.”

Friends of SDSU also commented after the press conference, saying in a release:

“San Diego State University plans a world-class stadium that is inclusive of collegiate football, professional soccer and the NFL. The University’s stadium vision shows once again that the flawed SoccerCity initiative and its narrowly focused stadium concept clearly will not work for the University. SDSU West is the only initiative that creates the opportunity for a true multi-use stadium that all San Diegans can enjoy.”


Stadium size is another potential issue. Even the smallest NFL venues seat more than 60,000 fans.

“If an NFL owner comes in and wants to look at a higher number, that certainly can be done,” Wicker said.

SDCCU Stadium — formerly known Qualcomm Stadium — seats 70,000 people.

Wicker said “55,000 is the number that we’ve heard out there. One of our consultants actually had a conversation with an NFL owner, not on the West Coast, who thought it was crazy to build anything bigger than 55,000 in San Diego.


“(Having) 70,000 was really hard to fill and the only reason it was at 70 was to attract the Super Bowl. It’s gotten really expensive to attract a Super Bowl and there’s not really that rotation anymore that San Diego is going to see the Super Bowl every five or six years.

“Those last 15,000 seats (from 55,000 to 70,000) bring your least return on investment. We felt 55,000 was the right number.”

Amy Trask, a former CEO of the Oakland Raiders, suggested in a story last year for the Houston Chronicle the possibility of “petite” stadiums in the future that would hold 35,000 to 45,000 fans.

“This offers a next generation alternative to the enormous edifices that are currently the norm throughout the NFL,” Trask said. “It would be technologically bodacious with internet and cellular connectivity and capability far greater than which can exist in a stadium that seats 70,000 to 80,000 people — seats would be far more comfortable than traditional stadium seating and would swivel so fans could turn to face the action no matter where on the field it is taking place. There would be tablets in every arm rest so fans could pull up replays as desired and order food and merchandise for delivery to their seats. There would be opportunities for ‘behind the scenes’ access that are not feasible with double the number of people in the stadium and which are not available to those choosing to watch a game from home.”


Among the details presented Thursday by Wicker:

-- The stadium would include 82 suites, located among the field level, lower bowl sideline, upper sideline and five club sections.

-- Also included would be 50 loge boxes with lounges as well as two end zone party decks.

-- An aluminum exterior panel “influenced by the sailboats found in San Diego harbor” designed in such a way that the color would change throughout the day.


-- The NFL franchise would be able to use the area west of the stadium, providing potential construction cost savings.

Last November, SDSU revealed plans for a 35,000-seat stadium as part of a proposal for the entire Mission Valley site that now surrounds SDCCU Stadium. The proposed stadium would be home to the Aztecs football team as well as accommodate professional soccer, concerts and other events.

It is one part of an SDSU West proposal that includes student housing as well as 90,000 square feet of retail space, recreation fields and a 50-acre community river park.


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kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com / on Twitter: @sdutkirKDKenney


UPDATES:

6:40 p.m.: Updates with quotes and additional information.

2:15 p.m.: Original story published.