PC's Post: Where will the Chargers live?

Cheers and welcome to the first blog post from PC on BFTB. Long time Chargers fan, first time poster here, hope you enjoy the quick hits and Chargers chat. Thanks for coming by, now let's get started!

With Qualcomm looking more and more like the old ramshackle house on the hill, the Chargers may be left out in the cold when the walls come tumbling down. It's no news to Chargers fans that the "Q", originally named after Jack Murphy, has seen far better days. In 1998, hosting both the World Series and the Super Bowl became a disaster that many deemed, "the final days of Qualcomm." It seemed a bit too much for the Bolts Bowl to handle, and just a few short years later, the Padres moved on to downtown Petco Park, leaving the Chargers stuck with a nearly 50-year old concrete monstrosity.

So where to? It's well known that National City has dropped its plans, Chula Vista and Oceanside are the next possibilities, and cities from San Antonio to Los Angeles have all thrown bids in the hat, and it's a strong possibility that our Chargers may be headed Northward. (or East...which leaves West and South out of the picture unless Honolulu or Mexico City decide to jump on the NFL new city bandwagon.)

What's the most likely outcome though for our wayward Bolts?

Chula Vista

Heading south near the border has been a major option for the Chargers, and would certainly be the least distance for the moving vans to travel. (Knowing that costs are going to be cut everywhere, don't be surprised if you see Jamal Williams loading up a U-Haul at the Q.) Distance, actually, may become a larger factor in the decision at Chula Vista. A large majority of Chargers ticket buyers come from the North County and even Orange and Los Angeles counties, and heading all the way to the bay area in San Diego can prove to be difficult. Public transportation and transit lines have also been a major problem, as few find their way to the multiple locations in the area.

Even talks of public funding have some officials even considering a name change to the "Chula Vista Chargers." Yes, because this worked so well for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Los Angeles in Anaheim.

Oceanside

Those familiar with North County San Diego will recognize the old Drive-In theater and current swap meet home, or the old golf course near Oside blvd and the 5-Freeway. Those not so familiar have yet to experience the utter gridlock caused on a near daily basis as people attempt to make the trek from the ocean to east county, and this is before a possible stadium being dropped right in the thick of it.

While the advantage of a North County stadium lies in attracting more fans from the upper counties of L.A. and Orange, the problems may still arise from funding, and making the area just the right fit for the stadium. Dropping a 60 yard pass into the arms of a full-on sprinting Vincent Jackson may be easier than getting a Super Bowl-quality stadium into the right spot in Oside.

Los Angeles

Majestic Realty and Ed Roski have been petitioning hard to try and get a stadium built in the City of Industry and to have an NFL team move in and set up shop. Obviously for the Angelenos, there is no better option than having their old team return home. Of course, the name Rams is taken, but perhaps the L.A. Chargers might have a nice ring to it. (The sound you just heard was the collective shudder of thousands of San Diegan fans.)

While the financial benefits for the city are extremely positive, (at least, according to the developers,) it is still all speculation and fancy presentations. With the deal in Walnut falling through almost completely, the choices are quickly getting smaller and smaller in the L.A. area. The main decision, it seems, relies on whether the wagging tongues of the Chargers organization, or other starving teams, is enough to convince a community to give up enough space and construction to create a stadium with no team.

Despite the famous statement that L.A. will never support a football team, all it takes is one of playoff-caliber. The number of Lakers bandwagon jumpers increased a thousand fold during their playoff run, (admittedly myself included, I thought a Pau Gasol was a type of Thai Noodle dish,) and could prove that a talented Chargers squad may be enough to ring the Angelenos on board.

Somewhere Else?

No matter what, it has to be the number one focus of the fans to keep the Chargers in Southern California. The infighting between L.A. and S.D. has always been one rivalry or another, from Padres/Dodgers (more David and Goliath at this point, except David has virtually no chance.) to Chargers/Raiders (ok, so they aren't in L.A., but the fanbase is undeniable.) It's time to unite the two and keep us Chargers fans from having to root for a team based hundreds of miles away.

The Chargers are at least here to stay for a few more years, which may give fans a chance to see new politicians enter into the debates, and new cities to claim a stake in the fight over the Blue & Gold. As far as where they'll end up, this blogger's going to place his bet on us kicking the Padres out of Petco. Honestly, who'd win in a fight? Jake Peavy or Shawne Merriman? Case closed.

Hope you enjoyed the First Post. Comment and let me know where you think the Chargers will end up, or if you have any ideas on where they should go! Thanks for reading. -PC