At a time when the Chargers and San Diego have been looking for ways to blame each other for the ultimate failure of efforts to keep the team from moving to L.A. via the construction of a new stadium, the two sides may have found a mutual scapegoat: the voters.
Via David Garrick of U-T San Diego, Monday’s meeting between team and city resulted in an announcement from San Diego officials that a citywide vote on a new stadium could be held by December 15.
“San Diegans deserve a vote on a new stadium and today we discussed a framework that allows for a vote this year,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said.
The election would be held by mail ballot, with the city covering the costs of the election — an estimated $2 million.
With public sentiment throughout the nation squarely against any effort to subsidize billionaire sports owners, it would be difficult to win an election that would result in a dollar of public money being devoted to the project. So if/when (when) the vote fails, the Chargers can say “we tried” and the city can say “we tried” and they both can blame the departure of the franchise on a reluctant electorate.