NFL Rumors: 10 Reasons Why the Chargers Should Stay in San Diego

With each Charger season seemingly upstaging the previous, Charger fans continue to hold their breath. Owners Alex and Dean Spanos have been doing everything in their power to make San Diego recognize that Qualcomm stadium is not an optimal home for the team.  Thus, speculation of whether or not the team will remain in San Diego continues to be an ongoing issue.

As it stands now, the Chargers will remain the San Diego Chargers until at least after 2011.  However, the Spanos brothers have been vocal about where they stand on their plans for a new stadium.  If the city of San Diego doesn't comply with the team's request, then it may be soon without a football team. 

Charger fans, support me and my ten reasons why the Chargers should want to remain in San Diego for a very long time...

10. Centre City Development Corporation

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SAN DIEGO - FEBRUARY 20: General view of downtown San Diego: the host city for the 1992 America's Cup class world championships shot on February 20, 1992. (Photo by Ken Levine /Getty Images)

In the state of California, there is such a thing as a "California Community re-development Agency," which allows for local re-development agencies to create new project areas and acquire property.

This is a good thing for the Chargers. 

In downtown San Diego, the Chargers have the Centre City Development Corporation on their side. They've been working closely with the Chargers and the city of San Diego on figuring out a way to build the team a new stadium.  

The Spanos brothers should take into consideration the effort and thought behind what this re-development corporation is trying to accomplish for the team and ultimately the city.  

9. Mark Fabiani Is the X-Factor

Mark Fabiani has been with the Chargers since 2002.  His primary focus over the years has been collaborating with the San Diego community in helping figure out how a new state-of-the-art football stadium fits into the city's plans.

Fabiani has been working tirelessly to achieve this goal for the team.  The Chargers have considered Chula Vista, Escondido Downtown, and the list goes on.  

Mark is the Chargers' No. 1 spokesperson with the city, and Charger fans need to rally behind him. He is the one that is going to be accredited when this is all said and done. 

8. Patience

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: San Diago Chargers head coach Norv Turner answers questions from the media during the NFL Annual Meetings at the Roosevelt Hotel on March 22, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite a NFL owners imposed lockout in effect since

The Chargers have been in San Diego since 1961.  Since joining the NFL in the 1970 AFL merger, the Chargers have failed to win a championship here.  

So what makes the Chargers so special?

Look at the other football teams in California. You don't think the 49ers want a new stadium? How about the Raiders, for example.  It's week seven, and Darren McFadden is getting tackled at second base (they share their stadium with the Oakland A's).  You don't hear the Raiders complaining...

The Chargers are fortunate enough to finally have their own stadium.  Qualcomm is dedicated to them.  It's a stadium that hangs their accomplishments on banners, a stadium that electrifies with a sound in the air every time a big time play is made.

We all want what we can't have.  What's important in this situation—as in life—is to appreciate the things you do have.  Even if the Chargers do sign a contract with the city of San Diego for a new stadium, it's going to take years before they actually play in it.

Bottom line is, the Chargers need to work on patience. 

7. Lease Expires in 2020

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers goes under center during their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Chargers signed a lease with the city of San Diego, saying that they would play there until the year 2020.  

If they violate the current lease and leave, the team owes a ton of money to the city.  For example, if the Chargers were to "hypothetically" leave San Diego after the next NFL season, they would owe $23.9 million dollars.

Even though there is a fine if the team leaves before 2020, the renegotiated lease in 2004 the Chargers signed means they are allowed to terminate their lease with the city any year anytime from Feb. 1 to April 30.  

It's not smart for the team to make such an ill-advised move, especially with the consequence being a huge hit to the team's finances.  If the first priority is really winning a championship, then the team won't continue to worry about the non-existent at the moment.

6. Work with the City

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30 JAN 1995: FANS GATHER ON AND AROUND A STATUE TO CHEER ON THE 49ERS DURING A PARADE ON MARKET STREET IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. THOUSANDS WELCOMED HOME THE 49ERS AFTER THEY DEFEATED THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, 49-26 YESTERDAY IN MIAMI,FLORIDA.

San Diego is a great city.  There is a ton you can do here that you can't do anywhere else in the nation.  The Chargers need to recognize that from a business standpoint.

The Bolts need to work with the city in making this happen.  If the two sides are looking at around an $800 million new facility, than they need to figure out how to get to that number, regardless.

The team needs to show that they make X-amount of dollars on an annual basis, and if it means paying back the city in order to get what they want through payments over time, then that's what the team needs to do.  

Period.

5. Weather

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 22: A general view of the goal post against the blue sky as the Denver Broncos host the San Diego Chargers during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 22, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 32-3.

There is arguably no other place in the United States that has better weather than San Diego does year-round.  The residents and tourists know it, the players and coaches that work for the Chargers know it, and the NFL certainly knows it.

What do you normally hear from a broadcaster when a nationally televised game is being hosted in San Diego?  "We're here in beautiful, sunny San Diego where the visiting Denver Broncos take on the hometown San Diego Chargers on this cool, crisp 73-degree afternoon".  

I mean come on...

Is the Chargers' next best option really Los Angeles?  Has anyone been to LA? It's like you're chilling in an outdoor smoking lounge (for basketball it's fine, but now you know why the
Dodgers don't win).  

You think anybody wants to see Ryan Mathews cough up a lung after a six-yard run because he got a piece of charcoal caught in his tube?  Maybe I'm being a bit extreme, but you get the gist. 

Not only does the team need this beautiful location, but the NFL does.  Can you imagine a Super Bowl constantly in a dome?.  We can't let that happen!

4. We Don't Want the Chargers to Become the Next Clippers

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NOVEMBER 1983: Norm Nixon #10 of the San Diego Clippers rest on the court during a game in November, 1983. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Everyone think back to when San Diego had a basketball team....Well, if you can't remember, I'll fill you in. I was about negative 12 years old at the time, and the Clippers were playing professional basketball in San Diego from 1978-1984.  

Now fast forward to when I am a positive 20 years old.  What has happened to the Clip show since then?  They've been overshadowed by the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings and UCLA and USC sports. Why?  Because Los Angeles cares about one thing: WINNING.  

If a Los Angeles team isn't winning that year, the city makes the team feel like the little Giants (at the beginning of the movie). 

If the Chargers move to Los Angeles, they will not only become a product of many, but they will be constantly reminded that the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders passed through there long before they did.  Also, if the Chargers moved to LA, there would still be die-hard Raider fans going to Charger home games and rooting for the Silver and Black.

Nobody who's a die hard Charger fan wants to expose the team to that kind of cruelty.  The Spanos brothers should know that that is bound to happen.

3. When You're Alone and Life Is Making You Lonely, You Can Always Go...

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Apr 1994: Actor Jerry Seinfeld and Shoshana Loenstein walk during the Long Beach Grand Prix in Long Beach, California. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

San Diego has a ton to offer anyone who steps foot in the city, and there is nothing like downtown San Diego.

Since the opening of the San Diego Padres' new facility (Petco Park) in 2004, downtown San Diego has not only lowered in crime, but revenue has gone up, and so has morale in the overall area.

Sure, downtown San Diego is no version of New York, Boston or even Chicago, but it's still a sight to see.

Imagine if the Chargers were able to pull off convincing the city of San Diego to put another sports complex downtown?  That would mean there would be year-round sports, it would become a huge tourist attraction, and the downtown area would boost even higher financially.

We all remember the George and Jerry conversation from Seinfeld about downtown...

"When you're alone, and life is making you lonely, you can always go...downtown.  Maybe you know, some little places to go, where they never close...downtown."

The people have spoken.  Downtown San Diego should be the new home for the San Diego Chargers!

2. Support the Fans Like We've Supported You Guys

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SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 19: A Charger fan looks on during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on September 19, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

This is a no-brainer.  How can the Chargers really up and leave every San Diego fan that has supported them since day one?  If they left, it would be the cruelest thing since the 1998 New York Yankee sweep of the San Diego Padres.

Seriously.

The Chargers—and specifically Alex and Dean Spanos—need to recognize the empire they've created here.  Everyone loves the Chargers.  They've been so good as of late, how can they leave us hanging like this?

I will tell you one thing—with the Chargers, you have to be flexible.  One week they will show up, another they'll forget their identity completely.  But, the one thing that has remained constant is the fan base.

We're hopefuls.  Ever heard of the term for a Padre fan being a friar faithful?  The same thing goes with our football team.  

Faithfulness my friends, faithfulness.

1. Finish What You Started

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers takes the field against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 33-28. (Photo by Doug Pensing

Ever watch a movie, but for some reason you don't end up finishing it?  That's the analogy I would use if the Chargers walked out on the city of San Diego right now.  

They have unfinished business here.  They haven't won an NFL championship yet. 

You must believe that the San Diego Chargers are going to do the right thing and play out their dream of one day winning a Lombardi trophy for this amazing city.

After all, how could they not?  

The Bolts next season are going to fly below everyone's radar, go 13-3, and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Only this time, they're going 2-0 at home when it really counts.

Mark my words, everybody.  A championship will quiet all rumors of the team leaving.  So, as a Charger nation we must unite as one, and attempt to tackle the elephant in the room that is a Super Bowl ring.

Touche.