National City officials plan to ask the Port Commission on Tuesday to consider the viability of building a Chargers stadium on port land.
In July, officials pegged 52 acres of bay front property in National City as prime land for building a new sports complex. The port owns that land, however, and must sign off on any deal that would lead to the construction of a stadium at the site.
Tuesday’s meeting, therefore, could make or break any plans to build a stadium in National City. If the Port Commission says it is committed to studying the viability of building a stadium, National City officials can continue to study their options for making use of the land.
“If they give direction contrary to that, it kills that plan,” said National City City Manager Chris Zapata.
The port purchased the land in 1996 for $17 million. It draws in $2.3 million in lease revenue for the port every year, but generates no money for National City.
The property’s tenants and waterfront workers are concerned about any plan to build a stadium on the land because they think it will endanger their jobs. Zapata said any study of the stadium’s viability would consider those concerns.