Some may not know, but the San Diego Chargers were actually originally the Los Angeles Chargers back in 1960 for one whole season. Yup, technically LA is trying to bring back the Chargers.
Alright fine, lets be realistic, nobody remembers that one season and I doubt there’s any diehard Charger fans begging to relive that time. The Chargers are San Diego through and through and it should stay that way.
Say what you want about the Chargers, whether you hate them, love them, or completely don’t care about them, this situation is more about a city that needs their team as much as the team needs their city. I was born in San Diego, I know lucky me, and it truly is one of the most beautiful cities in America. The weather, the beaches, the people, the dog parks, Sea Wor-…ok I’ll stop there. Anyways, to imagine such a gorgeous city to be without its football team would be a tragedy. Not many cities have the perfect outdoor weather year round to supply such an awesome football atmosphere. C’mon, nobody wants to tailgate in the snow or rain! You want the sun on your skin, BBQ burnin’, cold beer drinking, weather that San Diego is known for!
Ok, obviously Los Angeles isn’t a far step from San Diego, but it’s far enough that it creates a different atmosphere. I understand LA wants football, LA deserves a team really, but the Chargers are not the right team for LA. I don’t say this as a Charger fan either, I don’t even live in San Diego anymore. I say this as someone who sees and has lived numerous Charger seasons in San Diego. And yes, not all seasons have been great, but that’s a different story, for a different time.
Football season in San Diego is truly electrifying, no pun intended. When football season begins, you feel it. When you wake up Sunday morning, you can feel that it’s game day the second you wake up and step out your front door. It’s almost palpable. Yes, ticket sales have declined, but in my opinion that isn’t solely on how our seasons have gone. NFL ticket prices are ridiculous, not to mention the costs inside the stadium make it quite the expense at the end of the day. But I’m not here to talk finances at all. I’m here to talk why the city needs it emotionally.
San Diego is full of people that have bled powder blue their whole life, but what makes this city even more fun, is that it’s also full of people who do not. San Diego is kind of a transplant city. San Diego is home to people from all over the US and the world. So on game days, you will find no shortage of your opponent hanging out in your backyard. And any football fan loves a good rivalry. We the fans sometimes may feel outnumbered and plenty may say that’s a bad showing for the Bolts, but it makes for some great football environments. Some may say it’s a showing of our fan base, but I think it’s a showing of our city. Because while you may not cheer for the Chargers because you’re die hard Broncos, Seahawks, or Raider Nation…you’ve chosen OUR beautiful city as your home and I dare to say you love it here in Sunny San Diego.
This all goes to my point, there’s plenty of financial reasons why the city should do whatever it takes to keep the Chargers here, it’s pretty scary how much it would affect us. But the emotional hit that the city culture would take is almost just as grand. I know this responsibility truly falls on all parties involved. The city, the mayor, the players, the owners, and we the people have to do our part to truly make this work and do what we all know is right. Qualcomm stadium is old, very old. But just because it doesn’t have fancy seats and amenities that these newer places have, doesn’t mean there isn’t a giant heart inside beating for the roar of football season. A new stadium is definitely in order, but more importantly the city needs to come first. Because home is where that heart is. Stay classy San Diego. Bolts Up!
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