On the eve of the Chargers' first-place showdown against the Oakland Raiders, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell delivered a strong message to the San Diego community in regard to the long-term viability of Qualcomm Stadium, as well as the state of the two other professional football venues in California.
"The three stadiums in California are certainly not up to the standards we're seeing in the rest of the NFL," Goodell told the San Diego Union Tribune on Wednesday.
"We have to find a solution here," he said. "Right now, the San Diego Chargers are here because the Spanos family wants to be here. I believe they want to continue to be here. It's up to us to find a solution."
Mark Fabiani, who's heading up the Chargers' effort to get a new stadium, recently told the Union Tribune that the team's proposal for a joint downtown stadium and convention center is the "last and best chance" to work something out in San Diego.
"Just to get an update from the mayor on what's happening on the stadium front," Goodell said Wednesday night during an event to benefit the Huntington's Disease Society. "It's not unusual. I do that when I come into cities where we have (teams)."
Goodell added: "It's important for me to be in touch with city leaders where we have franchises. … It's about a collaboration. … It's not unusual, but it's always important."
There has been wide speculation that the Chargers could be the team to move to Los Angeles once there's a new stadium built. On Wednesday, Goodell did not sound too optimistic about the two competing L.A. stadium proposals -- one downtown, the other in the City of Industry.
The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported the 49ers have told Santa Clara, Calif., officials to expect a financial plan soon for the team's billion-dollar stadium project.
