Goodell at rally to support Chargers’ stadium plan

8:13 PM ET

SAN DIEGO — A year ago, with the San Diego Chargers not interested in a proposal for a new stadium in Mission Valley, the NFL sought a stadium project the team could enthusiastically support.

On Saturday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell traveled to San Diego at the invitation of Chargers chairman Dean Spanos to attend a rally of about 4,000 fans. Goodell was there to support the start of a signature-gathering effort for a citizens’ initiative effort to build a $1.8 billion stadium and convention center expansion downtown, next to the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park.

After his flirtation with Carson last year, Spanos finally has a stadium plan in San Diego he is enthusiastic about.

“I’m confident that if they can get a stadium built here, the owners will want to support it with a Super Bowl,” Goodell said. “I think that’s what this community deserves, and we’re all going to work to try and find a solution.”

San Diego last hosted a Super Bowl in 2003. The NFL said then that the Super Bowl would not return unless the Chargers replaced dilapidated Qualcomm Stadium.

If the project makes it to the ballot box in November and is approved, Goodell said he believes NFL owners will bring back the Super Bowl to San Diego.

The Chargers have to qualify the measure for the ballot, which requires 66,447 valid signatures certified by the office of the registrar by mid-June, presented to the San Diego city clerk’s office and ultimately approved by the city council.

The city council can either vote to adopt the initiative or place the measure on the ballot. If placed on the ballot, city voters …

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