Interested parties have been invited to submit bids for the naming rights to Qualcomm Stadium, former home of the Chargers NFL American football franchise.
Properties interested in sponsoring the venue have until September 1 to submit a proposal. The naming-rights agreement would run until the end of December 2018.
The rights will only be available on a short-term basis, with the city of San Diego intending to demolish the venue in 2019.
The 70,000-capacity stadium is currently without a major league tenant following the Chargers’ relocation to Los Angeles earlier this year.
Qualcomm Stadium is still used by the San Diego State University’s football team, whose licence to play at the venue expires at the end of 2018.
The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper reported that Fox College Properties is marketing the rights through an agreement with the city. It is hoped a new name will be unveiled ahead of San Diego State’s fixture with Stanford University on September 16.
Duke Little, Fox’s vice-president and general manager for the SDSU account, told the Union-Tribune that bids of around $500,000 (€421,000) are expected.
He said: “When you have that short of a runway, you’re not going to generate the traditional naming rights revenue. That being said, it’s a unique opportunity for somebody to take advantage of this situation.”
Telecommunications company Qualcomm has held naming rights to the venue since 1997.
A group by the name of SoccerCity has hopes of developing the land on which Qualcomm Stadium currently sits into a soccer-specific stadium as part of plans to attract a Major League Soccer franchise to San Diego.
Last month, the group asked MLS to delay making an announcement on its latest expansion franchise until after San Diego residents had voted on the matter.
Under the proposal, a $200m MLS stadium would serve as the hub of a wide-ranging $1bn development complex.
The plans also include the option to build another NFL stadium in the immediate vicinity, should the league opt to return to San Diego in the future.
Image: Bspangenberg
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