Chargers in limbo: Location, date of Sunday's game in Sanders' hands

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Thursday, October 25, 2007 3:18 AM PDT ∞

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Chargers president Dean Spanos said Wednesday that the organization is leaving the decision of when and where the team will play the Houston Texans to San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.

Qualcomm Stadium is being used as an evacuation site for thousands of people who were displaced by the wildfires ravaging the county. The Chargers and the NFL are considering alternate sites in case the facility is unavailable, and a decision on where to play the game is expected today.

"It's the right decision to wait until the mayor ultimately gives us the go-ahead or the no-go as to whether Qualcomm will be ready," Spanos said as the Chargers began Wednesday's practice at the Arizona Cardinals' facility.

Sites under consideration include University of Phoenix Stadium in nearby Glendale, Reliant Stadium in Houston and Texas Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Irving.

Spanos, however, wasn't ready to shut the door on playing the game in San Diego.

"There's always the option to play Monday night," Spanos said. "If that's what we have to do, we'll do it. That gives another day for things to get better."

Stadium manager Erik Stover estimated the number of evacuees remaining at Qualcomm Stadium as "about 1,000 to 2,000" as of Wednesday afternoon. He said it's conceivable that the stadium could begin to prepare to host an event in another 24 hours.

"It's hard to put a time on it," Stover said. "Donations still need to be cleaned up and taken to the appropriate places. But most of the event preparations we do at the stadium is standard operating procedure. We are used to quick turnarounds.

"We have been in constant communication with the city, the NFL and the Chargers over the last two days. The decision is in the mayor's hands right now."

The Chargers released a statement Wednesday afternoon stating, in part, that "the Chargers have only one goal: provide Mayor Sanders with the time and flexibility he needs to make whatever decision the Mayor believes is in the best interests of the people of San Diego."

Unknowns such as the venue or the kickoff time aren't an issue with Chargers coach Norv Turner. He said his job is simply to prepare the team to play.

"I know this -- that game is going to get played," Turner said. "That ball is going to be kicked off, and we can't do anything about any of the other things -- where it's going to be or when it's going to be. But we can do something about our preparation for the game, and that's what we're doing."

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, one of 24 Chargers players forced to evacuate, said his focus is solely on playing the game, not on where it ends up being held. But he's also aware that the contest could temporarily relieve the stress of county residents.

"Any time you can entertain people, it's always going to take their minds off of what's going on," Tomlinson said. "Even for three or four hours, if you can entertain them, they're going to take their minds off of whatever is going on in their world. That's what we want to do."

As for the alternate sites, the Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys both have byes on Sunday. The Cardinals' stadium in Glendale will host a motorcycle show on Sunday and would not be available until Monday night.

Houston is willing to host the game, but playing it there would turn a Chargers home game into a competitive advantage for the Texans.

Spanos addressed the team before practice and described the players as "pretty upbeat."

"The most important thing, at least from the football side, was get here and get three days of practice in," Spanos said. "I think they're coming together. In some ways, this brings them all a little bit closer. It's unfortunate with the circumstances, but they are trying to make the worst situation the best possible situation if they can."

As the players left the Cardinals' facility to return to their hotel, they remained in the dark on where the game will be played.

"We'll be there, wherever they tell us," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "But obviously, San Diego would be the ideal place."

-- Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. Sports editor Loren Nelson contributed to this report.