Chargers hire Maas, meet with city; Mark Fabiani remains a part of team
PostPosted:9 years 5 months ago
and the kayfabe continues...
hard to interpret the move to a Citizen's Initiative as anything other than a
diss to Mission Valley and a press towards Downtown San Diego (despite Spanos
basically saying otherwise). And I'm less sure than ever what Fabiani's role now is.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/new ... -stadium-/
By Kevin Acee | 3:40 p.m. Feb. 8, 2016
Fred Maas, chair of the Center City Development Corporation, stands in front of downtown
buildings on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 in San Diego. — Eduardo Contreras / Union-Tribune
The Chargers and city officials met Monday afternoon, shortly before the team announced
a significant addition to its effort to get a stadium built in San Diego.
In a move that seems to at least portend good intentions, the Chargers have hired to
head their stadium efforts the man they wanted the city to hire to do the same thing
more than a year ago.
The Chargers on Monday announced that Fred Maas will join the team in its quest to
launch a citizens initiative toward a November ballot measure aimed at getting public
assistance building a new stadium.
"(Maas) has been around San Diego a long time," Chargers chairman Dean Spanos said on
a video posted to the team's web site. "… He's very familiar with all the political
aspects of what goes on in the city, how all that works. His knowledge of San Diego
as whole will help us."
Maas was expected to be present at a Monday afternoon meeting between the sides at
Spanos’ home. That meeting included Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
Special counsel Mark Fabiani, whose aggressive style has angered fans and local
leaders, continues to work for the Chargers and will be involved in the stadium process.
But, as had been expected, Fabiani's role has been altered. Where Fabiani has headed
the team's efforts in San Diego and Los Angeles since 2002, Spanos said Maas "is in
charge of this particular initiative, this stadium effort going forward."
Chargers sources have said the team plans to spend approximately $10 million on the
election process, which begins with the launch of citizens initiative. Others familiar
with the cost if such efforts said that cost is reasonable to assume.
Maas was the stadium point man in former mayor Jerry Sanders administration, as well
as the former director of the Centre City Development Corp. and a businessman with
extensive ties in the community. He moves in circles occupied by both Chargers chairman
Dean Spanos and Faulconer.
In fact, the Chargers suggested to Faulconer that he consider Maas to head the city’s
side of stadium negotiations in 2014.
After meetings with Faulconer, Maas withdrew from consideration citing concerns about
the commitment he would have to make considering all the new mayor was working through.
He later expressed his respect for Faulconer and others involved in the process.
It was around that time in late ‘14 that many people close to Spanos began to indicate
he had essentially given up on getting a stadium deal in San Diego.
The Chargers said in a statement that Maas “will advise Spanos and the Chargers on the
Citizen’s Initiative process, including the exploration of possible stadium financing
plans that would be publicly acceptable, the drafting of the initiative document, and
the creation of the campaign infrastructure necessary to give the Citizens’ Initiative
the best possible chance of success. Maas will be working closely with an established
team of legal, financial and land-use advisors.”
Given his work downtown, some interpret that Maas' inclusion in the Chargers' efforts
confirms that the team will pursue a downtown stadium. Spanos said that is not
necessarily the case.
"That’s why I brought Fred on," Spanos said. "I want somebody who is going to look at
both sites. We have to look at it from a financial perspective and what are the chances
the public is going to support one of these projects and give us the best chance to
get a stadium."
hard to interpret the move to a Citizen's Initiative as anything other than a
diss to Mission Valley and a press towards Downtown San Diego (despite Spanos
basically saying otherwise). And I'm less sure than ever what Fabiani's role now is.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/new ... -stadium-/
By Kevin Acee | 3:40 p.m. Feb. 8, 2016
Fred Maas, chair of the Center City Development Corporation, stands in front of downtown
buildings on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 in San Diego. — Eduardo Contreras / Union-Tribune
The Chargers and city officials met Monday afternoon, shortly before the team announced
a significant addition to its effort to get a stadium built in San Diego.
In a move that seems to at least portend good intentions, the Chargers have hired to
head their stadium efforts the man they wanted the city to hire to do the same thing
more than a year ago.
The Chargers on Monday announced that Fred Maas will join the team in its quest to
launch a citizens initiative toward a November ballot measure aimed at getting public
assistance building a new stadium.
"(Maas) has been around San Diego a long time," Chargers chairman Dean Spanos said on
a video posted to the team's web site. "… He's very familiar with all the political
aspects of what goes on in the city, how all that works. His knowledge of San Diego
as whole will help us."
Maas was expected to be present at a Monday afternoon meeting between the sides at
Spanos’ home. That meeting included Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
Special counsel Mark Fabiani, whose aggressive style has angered fans and local
leaders, continues to work for the Chargers and will be involved in the stadium process.
But, as had been expected, Fabiani's role has been altered. Where Fabiani has headed
the team's efforts in San Diego and Los Angeles since 2002, Spanos said Maas "is in
charge of this particular initiative, this stadium effort going forward."
Chargers sources have said the team plans to spend approximately $10 million on the
election process, which begins with the launch of citizens initiative. Others familiar
with the cost if such efforts said that cost is reasonable to assume.
Maas was the stadium point man in former mayor Jerry Sanders administration, as well
as the former director of the Centre City Development Corp. and a businessman with
extensive ties in the community. He moves in circles occupied by both Chargers chairman
Dean Spanos and Faulconer.
In fact, the Chargers suggested to Faulconer that he consider Maas to head the city’s
side of stadium negotiations in 2014.
After meetings with Faulconer, Maas withdrew from consideration citing concerns about
the commitment he would have to make considering all the new mayor was working through.
He later expressed his respect for Faulconer and others involved in the process.
It was around that time in late ‘14 that many people close to Spanos began to indicate
he had essentially given up on getting a stadium deal in San Diego.
The Chargers said in a statement that Maas “will advise Spanos and the Chargers on the
Citizen’s Initiative process, including the exploration of possible stadium financing
plans that would be publicly acceptable, the drafting of the initiative document, and
the creation of the campaign infrastructure necessary to give the Citizens’ Initiative
the best possible chance of success. Maas will be working closely with an established
team of legal, financial and land-use advisors.”
Given his work downtown, some interpret that Maas' inclusion in the Chargers' efforts
confirms that the team will pursue a downtown stadium. Spanos said that is not
necessarily the case.
"That’s why I brought Fred on," Spanos said. "I want somebody who is going to look at
both sites. We have to look at it from a financial perspective and what are the chances
the public is going to support one of these projects and give us the best chance to
get a stadium."