Venue News & Notes: Chargers Release Downtown Stadium Plan

The San Diego Chargers this week released the first rendering of a proposed $800 million “urban” stadium in downtown San Diego, a 62,000-seat venue on a 10-acre site near Petco Park. Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani, who met with construction supporters in Kearny Mesa, called the site the team’s “last best option.” The Chargers have been seeking a new stadium for several years and have looked at potential sites in other cities in San Diego County. Fabiani said the downtown site near 17th Street and Imperial Avenue would save money because of the availability of public parking and transportation…

…The Minnesota Vikings issued a tersely worded statement this week saying the team is “extremely disappointed” that the legislature did not pass a stadium bill during the 2010 session. “This solution must be finalized in the 2011 session,” the team said. A bipartisan stadium bill that sought to pay for a new stadium with user fees gained some steam this spring but died in committee. That plan would have included a sports-lottery game and taxes on hotels, rental cars, and sports memorabilia. The Vikings thanked their fans for supporting a stadium during “this watershed moment for the future of the franchise in Minnesota,” but the team also criticized Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders for not addressing the Vikings’ stadium situation after approving stadium projects for the Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota football team…

…They crammed onto couches, munching on pizza and Filipino spring rolls. Some lined the living room, watching the kids run wild. An overflow crowd hung out in the kitchen, craning to listen in on the debate that’s captivating so many Santa Clara, CA, families these days: should their city team up with the 49ers to build a $937 million football stadium? Meet the Esposo family. All 15 households of them. With 51 votes at stake in this one extended family, City Council members from both campaigns recently brought their soapboxes to Cousin Heather’s home to tangle over Santa Clara’s biggest ballot measure ever.