Catch Up on the Convadium

When Scott Lewis first referred to a proposed stadium and convention center facility as a “convadium” back in 2011, it was just a funny and efficient word to describe an idea.

Now the word, and the plan itself, have come into their own. The planned Chargers convadium exists on your ballot as Measure C. And the word is being used – and skewered – by no less than HBO.

The stadium has managed to drown out most civic discussions for the last year or more, but things have really heated up in the last few weeks.

Here’s the Latest:

The biggest question folks have with Measure C is whether the city’s general fund will be on the hook. Well, that depends on two things: the Chargers’ projections holding up, and on the team keeping its promises.

But there are potential problems with both. The team’s projections have been called into question. And their promises are just that – they’re not bound by anything in the text of Measure C or other laws.

The Chargers have rallied at least two big allies to their side: Rep. Scott Peters, who says the city can do things like fix its roads and parks and build a stadium, and Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who finally revealed he wants Measure C to pass.

There are plenty of vocal opponents, though, including two of Faulconer’s typical allies, Councilmen Scott Sherman and Chris Cate. Architect Rob Quigley says a convadium would be a disaster from a planning and land use perspective. (Chargers adviser Fred Maas shot back at that one.) The owner of the historic Wonder Bread building doesn’t want to see it torn down for a stadium. And residents in nearby Barrio Logan worry about the impact of a stadium on their livelihoods. (The Chargers have tried to soothe those concerns with more non-binding promises.)

Needless to say, there is no shortage of opinions when it comes to Measure C and the Chargers. These are some of the greatest hits from our op-ed section over the last few weeks:

• The Numbers Support the Convadium

• A Stadium Isn’t the Measure of a City’s Greatness

• The Chargers Should Look a Bit Harder at That Minnesota Stadium Deal They’re Touting

• San Diego Needs Infrastructure, Not a Stadium

• Stadium Plan Is Quite the Shutout: Taxpayers, $1.1 billion; Spanos, $0

• Nothing in the Chargers’ Initiative Will Hurt Your Neighborhood