Dateline Santa Clara – When Carson Mayor Albert Robles and Mayor Pro-Tem Elito Santarina this morning toured Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, they were briefed by Santa Clara Mayor Jamie L. Matthews about the “incredible benefits” created by the public ownership of the stadium.
“After the tour,” said Mr. Robles, “I am more convinced than ever that bringing the Chargers’ and Raiders’ NFL franchises to Carson, to play at a stadium in our city, will be tremendously exciting and beneficial.
“This will put Carson on the map as a forward-thinking city. It will unite our residents as never before. It will be an asset that will enhance the pride and economic well-being of Carson and of Southern California.”
Mr. Robles and Mr. Santarina are leading champions of a proposal to relocate the San Diego Ch and Oakland franchises to a new state-of-the-art stadium on a 168-acre site in Carson.
During the briefing, Carson officials learned that Levi’s Stadium:
- Came in $134 million under its construction budget and opened a year ahead of schedule;
- Delivered $2.8 million to Santa Clara’s general fund;
- Helped spur an increase in local average daily hotel room rates; and
- Stimulated $6.5 billion in private development surrounding the stadium
“It was a very productive meeting with our counterparts,” said Mr. Santarina. “We are both small-sized cities. Santa Clara is already in the big leagues, and we want to join them!”
Meanwhile, Carson leaders continue to prepare for a possible NFL move to their city. At next Tuesday’s meeting, the Carson City Council will consider creating a public agency to own and manage the leasing of a stadium built to host the Chargers and Raiders.
A similar public agency owns Levi’s Stadium. There are other parallels. The financing of Levi’s Stadium was handled by the investment firm Goldman Sachs, which plans to organize the Carson stadium financing if a relocation deal is reached with NFL owners.
The Council also will review a proposed ordinance to ban drones from flying over and near the stadium property. Drone flights over sporting events have become a public safety concern nationwide.
The Robles-Santarina visit was a side trip while attending a California League of Cities convention in nearby San Jose that began yesterday and ends tomorrow.
Carmen Policy, who represents the Chargers-Raiders, told reporters within the last month that he expects NFL owners to make a decision concerning the teams’ proposal to set up shop in Carson by the end of the present season, perhaps in January.
Carson City Manager Kenneth Farfsing and a team of city officials recently met with their counterparts in Santa Clara to discuss the land-use planning, transportation and traffic, police and fire issues that arise in connection with hosting an NFL team.
“We will be ready if the Chargers and Raiders are okayed to move to Carson,” said Mr. Farfsing.
The good news is that a Carson stadium and all the city services needed to support it will be paid for by the teams. “This enterprise will not be subsidized by new or higher taxes on Carson residents,” Mr. Farfsing said. “Of course, we fully expect that the teams will provide a major shot in the arm to the hospitality industry in Carson. Pro football means more jobs and a spike in restaurant and hotel businesses in particular.”
The NFL-to-Carson project would generate an estimated 13,380 jobs per year and $609 million per year in labor income, according to an analysis commissioned by the Chargers and Raiders. The same survey estimated construction of the stadium alone would produce 16,740 annual jobs and generate $1.1 billion in labor income.
Mr. Schwada may be contacted at John.schwada@gmail.com
