Oceanside's past poses risk to Bolts

By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer | Wednesday, February 7, 2007 7:08 PM PST ∞

Would a new Chargers stadium be a boon for Oceanside?

Possibly.

The devil is in the details, as the saying goes, and any project as large and expensive as a professional football stadium is going to possess the ability to be either boon or boondoggle.

But a properly structured deal with the Chargers might well prove to be of great benefit to the city.

The concern here, though, is, given Oceanside's history of wasted opportunities and short-sighted planning decisions, the likelihood of the City Council striking a deal that benefits the city's residents seems, well, remote.

This is a city that at one time was home to quite a few new-car dealerships -- only to see Carlsbad lure them south with its then-innovative clustered "Car Country."

This is a city that at one time had a vibrant downtown shopping district -- only to see Carlsbad lure retail shoppers south with its regional shopping mall.

This is a city that has repeatedly stubbed its toe in trying to develop its gorgeous, scenic waterfront -- spending millions in wasted efforts rather than reaping the economic fruits its location should bring.

And it's a city whose City Council is currently waging a war against one of its own few remaining regional assets, the airport.

So if confidence isn't high that Oceanside can successfully partner with the Chargers to create a smart, win-win plan to build an NFL stadium in the city, it's not mere cynicism.

Still, the Spanos family -- owners of the Chargers -- made the billions of dollars that have allowed them the luxury of owning an NFL franchise through some very smart real estate development in Central California. The Spanoses aren't dumb when it comes to money, and that expertise has been readily apparent in every stadium proposal the Chargers have floated before the public the past few years. This isn't just a sports stadium the Chargers want to build -- it's an innovative mixed-use facility combining conference, retail, residential and entertainment uses. A sort of mini-Gaslamp Quarter in a stadium, if you will.

People that smart don't suffer fools gladly, though. Oceanside's rocky record of civic competence has been researched and noted at Chargers headquarters, guaranteed.

My guess -- completely uneducated, mind you -- is that whatever benefits the Chargers see to a North County location (certainly easier access for fans in Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties) are going to be tempered by a realization that dealing with Oceanside's municipal government is a bit like playing poker with a lunatic.

But if Oceanside's leaders have their work cut out for them in convincing the Chargers that they can be a reliable partner if a stadium is built here, that isn't the city's obligation. The city's obligation is to the taxpayers and residents of the city.

So the Oceanside City Council needs to be very sure that the Spanoses have a stadium plan in place that will provide real benefit to the citizens of Oceanside before moving forward. An NFL team plays only 10 home games a year -- nothing like a baseball team's 80-plus home dates.

Which brings us back to those pesky details -- and the ability of the Oceanside City Council to convince both the Chargers and a doubting public about its ability to conduct business the right way.

-- Contact columnist Jim Trageser at (760) 631-6628 or jtrageser@nctimes.com.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.