LOOK: The Chargers release images of a new San Diego stadium
The new design would allow the team to remain in San Diego long-term.
By
Jared Dubin
•
2 min read
The San Diego Chargers released on their official website on Friday the first renderings of a stadium and convention center expansion that would allow the team to remain in the city beyond 2016. The Chargers were previously one of three teams (including the Rams and Raiders) attempting to move to Los Angeles, but after their proposal was denied by the league, owner Alex Spanos stated that he was focused on keeping the team in San Diego long-term.
Via the official announcement, a description of how this rendering came to be:
This is a conceptual design intended to convey the Chargers’ vision for what the stadium and convention center expansion could look like. The final design will be the result of a design process conducted with the joint powers authority, the city or other governmental entity designated by the city to coordinate the construction of the stadium and convention center expansion, if the Initiative is approved by the voters.
Now, let's take a look at some pictures. First, an exterior shot of the stadium:
Very fancy. From the Chargers' website, "The scale of the project is thoughtfully integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood, and would be well balanced within the context of existing and future planned development." Here's another view:
"The project would naturally accommodate the development of the downtown urban core to the East, and could transform currently underutilized space into a major civic asset that generates jobs, tourism, and foot traffic for the local community."
Now, the convention center:
"In the current design, stadium and convention center entries would be separated, and allow for independent use of the various building components. Large entry plazas would allow for the smooth and safe circulation of all guests to the different levels of the building."
What will the stadium look like on the San Diego skyline, and where is it in relation to other San Diego landmarks like Petco Park? Glad you asked:
"The stadium and convention center expansion would be well adjacent to other important civic assets like the ballpark, the convention center, and the library. The result would be a dynamic collection of amenities for the city that could create important synergies with local business such as restaurants, cafes, and shops.
"The intimate and compact design of the seating bowl would pull every spectator as close to the event as possible. The grand opening on the West end of the bowl, utilized for temporary Super Bowl expansion seating, would allow for views of the downtown skyline from within the stadium."
The announcement also notes that the proposed stadium and convention center expansion meets all the requirements to host Super Bowls.
