This hasn't been mentioned here yet: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/sd-sp-azfoot-jd-wicker-stadium-0914-story.html SDSU says that more information shall be available on their plans for the MV site in December. They haven't ruled out an MLS franchise but didn't mention FSI which is interesting.
I'm not sure FSI has to have the franchise rights to get MLS but has another MLS investment group ever even been mentioned? Especially connected to SDSU' plan?
So basically, after years of doing absolutely nothing, SDSU is going to take the next 3 months to focus and draw "pretty pictures." When Wicker talks about wanting a business partner, what he is asking for isn't a partner it's a sugar daddy.
Pretty much. But he's choosing a good time to do it. SDSU football has never been in a better position. That said, he will be asking for a handout. What's amazing to me is they didn't take the handout that was right in front of them.
Well the rights were previously owned by John Moores and were sold to FSI for a limited number of years is my understanding.
Give up on San Diego, no way it's one of the four cities. San Diego is where pro sports teams goes to die, like Miami.
A little more info http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/columnists/logan-jenkins/sd-me-jenkins20170920-story.html
I don't think I've seen anything regarding USD with Moores. USD is generally Jenny Craig and Ron Fowler's bailiwick.
To be fair that was his only involvement with USD and he has made much more sizable donations to SDSU and UCSD (SDSU being the biggest). What is interesting is it was intimated in a previous article that SDSU is working with a local university on their football stadium. I doubt its USD so that leaves UCSD who wants to make the jump to DIV1 for all sports
Makes sense from SDSU's perspective to have another tenant to share the costs don't think it will be FSI. Seems like that relationship is pretty poisonous. Heard an interview on KPBS where a rep from SDSU said that there was no chance they would work with FSI in the future.
Not surprising. FSI aren't in this just for the soccer. They wanted to do the development at the SDCCU Stadium site as well. Who knows, maybe cutting FSI out would be a good thing. Get someone in there who is in it for the soccer and not for the ancillary development.
Things are getting interesting.... http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/sd-fi-sdsusoccer-20170928-story.html
Well that's the end for SoccerCity. And may be the end for both if they end up in the same ballot together. But the SDSU plan has a much better chance given its more altruistic nature, larger stadium, and SDSU's current unprecedented run of success in the wake of the LAC's departure north.
Recent unprecedented success or better major college football unprecedented success. The last time we were this high ranked was in the Coryell era which was not really Div1A football.
They've never been this highly ranked in the modern D1 era. Haven't won as a ranked team in 40 years. Haven't started 4-0 in over 36 years. And have never had a run like this of both winning seasons and bowl appearances in their history. So yeah, unprecedented. And between the stadium issue and Chargers departure their timing is impeccable.
Maybe I'm letting my bias obscure my vision but I don't think this SDSU "plan" spells doom for SoccerCity. SDSU still hasn't actually said what they specifically plan to do with the property other than build a stadium 7 years after winning at the ballot box. More importantly they haven't said how they intend to finance their project. One of the greatest strengths of the SoccerCity plan is that it is privately financed and also generates millions of dollars of revenue for the City of San Diego. SDSU as a public university is funded by taxes. One of these projects raises revenue for the city and the other could potentially cost citizens millions of tax dollars. I think that when you set aside the tribal factions of soccer fans who will vote for SoccerCity regardless and the tribal SDSU supporters who will vote for the university plan regardless, there is a much larger number of voters who will make a decision based on logic. Can you imagine what Amazon expanding their operations within the bounds of SoccerCity will do for San Diego's economy??