The former San Diego Chargers have wired the city more than $12.5 million, to satisfy the early-termination clause of the team’s contract to use the city-owned Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley.
The Los Angeles Times reported Feb. 1 that the team wire-transferred the money to the city and also sent a two-paragraph letter signed by Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos. The Chargers recently announced the team will play in Los Angeles next year, after 56 seasons in San Diego.
The Times’ report was corroborated by its sister newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune, which confirmed the matter with the mayor’s office.
The Chargers’ current lease at the Mission Valley stadium took effect in 1995 and was scheduled to expire in May 2020. According to city documents, terms of the lease called for the Chargers to pay the city $12,575,000 if the team gave notice of early termination between Feb. 1 and May 1 of 2017.
City officials have previously said there are other matters still to be settled in connection with the Chargers’ departure, including debt payments related to prior stadium improvement projects and costs associated with repurposing a Kearny Mesa property for the team’s practice facilities.
The Chargers have made arrangements for practice facilities in Costa Mesa. The team has until July 31 to vacate its current practice facilities and administrative offices on Murphy Canyon Road.
