It was nearly two months ago that I predicted on this here blog that San Diego State’s anti-SoccerCity insurgency was in its death throes. I assumed that the decision to have Mayor Kevin Faulconer intervene to try to get something – anything – out of the deal for SDSU was merely the first step in the university’s capitulation.
That prediction, uh, hasn’t aged so well.
WELP.
For months, I’ve been wondering whether SDSU was airing its grievances with the SoccerCity plan as a bargaining chip, or because it wanted to kill the deal outright. Deep down, I always thought it was the former, if only because the latter seemed too risky to the football program. Turns out, they’re ready to go full YOLO here.
What I find particularly interesting about the university’s statement is what it doesn’t mention – the expansion of the stadium. This clearly is – and likely always was – about the land. It’s about SDSU West.
Apparently, SDSU has decided that Mission Valley is central to its growth as an institution, and that securing a measure of certainty for the future of the football program via Soccer City is not worth letting that window slide shut forever.
That’s a reasonable calculation and, frankly, a compelling argument. Quick, what’s more important to the region: Another Top 50 university in the heart of our city, or an MLS franchise and a whole grip of pricey condos? In the right conditions San Diego State could wage war on the strength of that question alone, and it could win that war.
Unfortunately, poor preparation has the university now needing to reconquer territory already lost. It sure would have been nice if SDSU had managed to have its story straight and shit together four months ago, before the FS Investors PR machine had kicked into high gear. That same PR machine will now attempt to crush SDSU’s position.
Here’s the first volley:
So what is the plan now? Enemy of my enemy, I guess.
That’s “Papa” Doug and John Moores.
War truly is hell. Also gross!
Obviously, I’m crap in the predictions game, so I hesitate to offer another one here. But I think I can at least accurately predict the forecast for this stupid, stupid summer:
Cloudy with a 100 percent chance of renderings.
Buckle up.
KABEER THIRTY 