A San Diego USL expansion bid was rejected by the league, as the proposed 1904 FC team and its plans for a $10-million popup stadium are in jeopardy after the collapse of the NASL.
Earlier this year San Diego 1904 FC officials had announced a 2019 USL debut after coming to an agreement with the USL, but things obviously changed since then. The exclusive negotiating period between USL and the 1904 FC ownership group expired on May 29, and while a deal can be revived, there are several issues that need to be addressed, such as meeting the USL’s required capital and local-ownership numbers. From the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“San Diego remains a very strong market of interest to the USL and we continue to make progress on our efforts there,” Lenny Santiago, USL’s vice president of communications and marketing, said in an email. “There is nothing more we can add at this time.”
Asked more specific questions about 1904 FC’s viability, Santiago declined to answer.
Bottom line: 1904 FC is a team without a league, again.
“1904 is not going anywhere,” Watkins said of the club named after SD’s numerical places in the alphabet. “We made a promise to do this, and we’re going to do it. All the pieces are still there.”
San Diego 1904 FC had proposed a unique popup stadium at the SoCal Sports Complex. The 10,000-seat facility, a modular structure, was slated to be constructed at the 22-field SoCal Sports Complex. But 1904 FC officials have not applied the necessary building permits, saying that there’s no reason to move ahead with construction if there’s no team.
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