With 15 percent of the vote counted -- all from absentee voters -- the proposal to publicly fund a new stadium in San Diego is on track to fail miserably.
As noted by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chargers are losing 61 percent to 39.
If it holds, it’s the kind of blowout that could cause the Chargers to scrap an effort to try it again in 2017, via a new measure that would include the cooperation and endorsement of popular Mayor Kevin Faulconer. It also could prompt the Chargers to take a serious look at moving to Los Angeles, an option the team holds until January 15.
To date, it has been believed that the Chargers won’t move, even if the effort to get taxpayer money fails. A decisive defeat could cause that assessment to change.
However, that would require the Chargers to do business with the Rams, something that the San Diego franchise hasn’t previously seemed to be inclined to do. If not L.A., where would the Chargers go?
Their current lease at dilapidated and outdate Qualcomm Stadium runs through 2020. Whatever the plan may be until then, it will be critical to have a solid plan beyond it.