Stadium not in 10th Avenue plans, group says

SDCS says terminal vote is "process, not project"
Brandon Stone, San Diego StadiumWatch


Building a stadium as part of a double deck on the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal is not in the big picture of the proposal, according to a group spokesperson.

“The odds of the stadium there are slim,” Scott Maloni, public affairs consultant for the private group San Diego Community Solutions, said. “The finances aren’t put together … there’s not enough events. I’m not sure a football stadium makes sense.”

SDCS announced their desire to build a deck at the site last week, citing that it would upgrade maritime services in San Diego Bay and allow for more parking downtown. The Port Commission would decide what structures could go on top of the deck, including hotels, parks or a convention center. SDCS has been working with engineering company CH2M Hill to develop innovative designs for the terminal space.

“The concept is that you maintain the terminal on the lower level,” Maloni said. “You would take advantage of the vertical space. There’s a vision of a monstrosity on the bay, but it is not like that.”

“It’s one of the most fantasized areas on the bay,” Maloni said. “One side says that it should always be a maritime terminal and the other says that it’s a waste. We’re mutual. We think you can do both.”

Maloni said that the group’s goal is to redevelop the area for both maritime and public use, respecting both those who want the land for industry and those who want to create something new. According to Maloni, the goal of the measure isn’t to instantly build on the terminal, but to amend the master plan to allow construction on the terminal.

“The initiative doesn’t have a project, it has a process,” Maloni said. “Some of the building could be for a convention center or for hotels or a sports arena. It could be a stadium.”

“It is premature to get caught up in any project,” he said.

The group has started collecting signatures in the five cities that represent the Port Commission, which runs the area. If the group collects enough votes, the deck proposal could be on the November ballot.

“The measure creates a process with specific criteria and timeframe to find a developer,” Maloni said.

Contact with both port and Chargers officials have not been made as of this time, but their response will be covered if there is comment.