As Mayor Kevin Faulconer works to bridge the gap between FS Investors and San Diego State en route to his expected endorsement of the SoccerCity project, there is reason to believe the primary point of contention between the soccer and football components of the proposed development are not really in great opposition.

According to several people familiar with the ongoing mayoral intercession, the development’s proposed stadium can be engineered in its initial construction in a way that makes expansion less problematic.

That possible solution to one of SDSU’s major concerns is expected to be part of a list of options the mayor presents to the university, perhaps as early as next week.

The FS group has proposed a development on the Qualcomm Stadium site that would include housing, retail and office space, parkland and a stadium that would be home to a Major League Soccer team and San Diego State football. The group expects to submit the required signatures to the city clerk by the end of the month. The city council is expected to approve the initiative to be part of a special election ballot in November.


The initiative calls for FS Investors and SDSU to split the cost of a $200 million stadium and for FS to gift its half of the stadium to the school after five years.

After more than a year of talks with FS Investors, which many familiar with those discussions believed resulted in the school feeling positive about the partnership, San Diego State in February publicly backed away from any association with SoccerCity.

The university said last month it could build its own stadium and needed more land for future campus expansion.

Recently, Faulconer and his emissaries, which include some of SDSU’s most significant boosters, began a concerted effort to work as middle men between the two parties. While FS Investors and SDSU have not engaged in formal joint talks, people from both sides have had discussions in the past week.


The Mayor is expected to endorse the SoccerCity project soon – after he secures a number of provisos from FS Investors that protect the city and guarantee what the city deems a fair price for the land, as well as addressing some of SDSU’s concerns about campus expansion and possible stadium expansion in the future.

“I’m excited for the next opportunity we have to meet with the mayor and understand where he’s at and what he thinks his vision is for San Diego State and Mission Valley,” SDSU Athletic Director John David Wicker said Tuesday.

“We appreciate the mayor leading the effort to find a proposal that first and foremost respects that this is a city-owned asset and should benefit its taxpayers, while also being fair to the university and solving for a home for both the world’s most popular sport – soccer – and SDSU football,” said Nick Stone of FS Investors. “… The mayor’s leadership will be key in reaching a timely and workable solution, and we are confident there should be a ‘win-win’ outcome for the taxpayers of San Diego and SDSU.”

Wicker and Stone declined to characterize the nature of any ongoing talks.


While optimism being expressed by multiple people involved in the dialogue is best described as cautious, what is occurring is a hopeful warming of the freeze that pervaded recent weeks.

The melting of the contentiousness and melding of thought is certainly a positive sign – and one that makes too much sense not to proceed.

With a little bending it has always maintained it is willing to give, the FS group can secure the tacit endorsement of one of San Diego’s largest institutions and political powers. A similar compromise by SDSU can secure a home for its football team, as well as the guarantee of other university needs.

At the very least, with Faulconer pledging to address SDSU’s needs for future campus expansion and the ability to expand the stadium, it is smart of San Diego State to see what it can get as part of the SoccerCity deal.


It made no sense for SDSU to appear antagonistic toward FS Investors when the group has undeniable momentum that could very well lead to the passage of their initiative.

Even with FS Investors repeatedly pledging to work with SDSU in the future even if the school was not on board with the initiative before it goes to voters in a likely November special election, being unwilling to engage with FS Investors risked alienating the group. Among the FS Investors is major Aztecs booster Steve Altman, the former president of Qualcomm.

Among San Diego State’s main issues with the SoccerCity project is a contention that expansion to 40,000 capacity would be cost prohibitive under constraints of the current proposal.

The main solution likely to be proffered is one that would call for FS Investors and SDSU to split the additional cost of including structural upgrades in the initial construction that would make for easier and cost-effective expansion. That cost is believed to be around $25 million above the estimated $200 million price tag for a 30,000-capacity stadium.


There is also likely wiggle room in the initial capacity, perhaps up to 33,000.

Given San Diego State’s need for a new stadium when Qualcomm closes, likely after the 2018 football season, and Wicker’s stated belief that a venue of around 30,000 to 35,000 would be appropriate, there is too much merit for this to not actually get accomplished.

kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com