Critics long have called for the replacement of the aging Qualcomm Stadium, the current home of the San Diego Chargers, but not everyone thinks the structure is ready for the wrecking ball.
“If you gave me $20 million with the existing facility, I could give you a really good 2016 NFL experience, with the addition of video boards, updated restrooms, concession stands, and wall wraps showcasing 50-plus years of Chargers history,” said Ernie Hahn, general manager of the Valley View Casino Center.
Hahn knows a lot about making the best of an aging sports and entertainment venue. The Valley View Casino Center was built in 1966, shortly before Qualcomm Stadium opened becoming the home of the Chargers and, for more than three decades, the San Diego Padres.
The Padres played home games at the stadium from 1969 through the 2003 season. The team now calls downtown’s Petco Park home.
In addition to the Chargers, the stadium currently is host to San Diego State University Aztecs football, the Holiday Bowl, the Poinsettia Bowl.
$600M Solution?
The stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 70,500, is located in Mission Valley, northwest of the interchange of Interstate 15 and Interstate 8. In recent years, the Chargers have been looking for a way to build a modern stadium in downtown San Diego. There is concern that the team may leave San Diego if it can’t find another local venue.
Despite the passage of time, Hahn has managed to keep the Valley View center in the Midway District viable thorough a series of improvements. They have included adding new viewing screens, a high-definition scoreboard, new restaurant concessions and an upscale bar.
The general manager says that with the right planning and care, there’s no reason why the multipurpose stadium in Mission Valley can’t continue to function for several more decades.
“Several architects have come forward,” Hahn said. “They have said Qualcomm can be retrofitted. The last number I heard was $600 million. They have said they could get Qualcomm Super Bowl-ready. I think that idea should be vetted.”
Bolts on the Big Screens
One of the best ways to ways to improve the fan experience at the stadium would be to add two large, state-of-the-art viewing screens, he said.
“Everybody talks about the sight line in the stadium,” Hahn said. “The reality is that for 90 percent of the seats you’re sitting in you have a hard time watching the game because you are so far away. Technology is key.”
As an example, Hahn points to the giant high-definition video screen at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium. In Dallas, “everyone is watching the scoreboard because it is an entertainment experience,” Hahn said. “They are watching the updates and the replays.”
One of the things the Mission Valley location has going for it is accessibility to freeways and the trolley system, Hahn added. “I still believe it is in the best location.”
Tailgating
Another asset is the stadium’s large parking lot, he said. It has fostered a tradition of tailgating, as people gather outside the venue to socialize and eat before events.
“For almost 50 years, the tailgate has been an integral part of San Diego Chargers football,” Hahn said.
San Diego voters on Nov. 8 rejected Measure C, which would have increased the city’s hotel room tax to partially fund a downtown stadium to replace the Qualcomm facility. Hahn said he understands the Chargers’ desire to leave the old facility. He added that it may be more practical to “supercharge” the existing stadium than to build a new one.
“If you can keep the team in San Diego and do it for half the price, you have to look at that,” Hahn said.
