San Diego Voters Say No to Chargers New Stadium

By ESPN

After 15 years of working to get a stadium built here, the Chargers finally found out from San Diego city voters if they want to build a new stadium that keeps the team in town.

The answer, at least for the project as it currently stands, was a resounding no.

With approximately 85 percent of ballots counted, the Chargers received only 42.5 percent approval on Measure C, the team's $1.8 billion downtown stadium and convention center annex that proposed raising hotel taxes from 12.5 percent to 16.5 percent to secure $1.15 billion in bonds to help pay for the project.

The citizens' ballot initiative required two-thirds of the voting public within city limits to approve the project, an extremely high bar for the team to reach.

In a letter sent late Tuesday night, Chargers chairman Dean Spanos thanked season ticket holders and fans for their support, but offered no insight into his intentions moving forward.

"In terms of what comes next for the Chargers, it's just too early to give you an answer," Spanos wrote. "We are going to diligently explore and weigh our options, and do what is needed to maintain our options, but no decision will be announced until after the football season concludes and no decision will be made in haste."

The Chargers still have the option of being a tenant in the stadium project in Inglewood, California, which is headed up by Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

As part of the Rams' relocation agreement approved earlier this year by NFL owners, the Chargers have until Jan. 15 to decide whether they want to join the Rams in Los Angeles. The two sides agreed to terms on a deal that would bring the Chargers to Los Angeles as the second NFL team earlier this year.

If the Chargers decide to stay in San Diego, the Raiders will have the opportunity to move south and join the Rams.