Doubts about Chargers' future grow

By John Langeler FOX 5 San Diego Staff

8:46 p.m. PST, February 6, 2011

SAN DIEGO -- Even though the San Diego Chargers, the NFL and Mayor Jerry Sanders have said they are committed to keeping the team in San Diego, at least one former city staff member is raising questions.

The former employee, who did not want to be identified, described the conversations between all sides as positive and better than ever. But he added that people have doubts about each other's intentions and sincerity, citing the length of time it sometimes takes the Chargers to deny rumors and the inability of City Hall to put a package together for a downtown stadium.

A public records request filed by Fox 5 for emails in 2010 from the city to the Chargers only turned up two documents: an exchange on a December rumor that AEG was buying 35 percent of the Chargers.

Fred Maas, former chairman of the Center City Development Corporation, isn't surprised.

"We're nowhere near a transaction with them yet," said Maas, who left the CCDC in December. "If we were in detailed negotiations with them, you might expect more."

"We can't really define what the city can bring to the table in this larger sports and entertainment district," Maas explained, referring to the East Village stadium proposal. "Frankly, given the state of the league and where they are in 2011, they can't say what the league is going to do."

City officials and Chargers ownership addressed the issue from the Super Bowl in Dallas.

"(Team management) wants to be in San Diego," said Commissioner Roger Goddell, "They want the Chargers to be in San Diego. So does the NFL. But we need to find a solution to this stadium issue."

"We have a downtown site we've been working on for over a year. We have a great dialogue with the city. They continue to expand on this opportunity that exists down there. There are challenges, no doubt about it. We haven't given up, and we're going to continue on this path," said Chargers President and C.E.O. Dean Spanos.

"It will be hard to compete with Los Angeles," said Maas. Entertainment group AEG and its owner Phillip Anschultz have secured funding for a downtown stadium in Los Angeles. But Maas said that doesn't mean the Chargers will move there.

"They're a long way from getting a stadium down there," Maas said. "I absolutely believe they want to stay here. I think we shouldn't be misled by some of the things happening up in Los Angeles."