Just a week after San Diego State University unveiled their idea for the former Qualcomm Stadium site in Mission Valley, the rival SoccerCity proposal took a PR hit when an analysis revealed that, if built, traffic would increase much more than developers said it would.

Per San Diego Metro, an analysis from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) says the SoccerCity development would not only increase traffic in the area but also fall short of San Diego’s goals to foster transit use and persuade commuters to walk or bike instead of driving. According to their study, SoccerCity would generate 97,000 car trips to or from the development, which is around 25 percent more than the developer’s own estimate. 

Also, the analysis expects less than 17 percent of people commuting to or from SoccerCity to use public transit, walk, or bike. That’s at odds with the city’s legally binding Climate Action Plan, which wants development to ensure 50 percent of those living within a half-mile of a transit stop to commute by transit, walking or biking by 2035.

SoccerCity investors are saying the study is flawed but SANDAG stands by its work.

The SoccerCity proposal calls for 55 acres of parkland, a 22,000-32,000-seat stadium, 4,800 new homes, over three million square feet of office and retail space, and two hotels. The City Council voted to put the development up for a public vote on the November 2018 ballot. That decision effectively took San Diego out the running for the latest round of Major League Soccer expansion franchises, but the proposal could still be approved and ready for the next round.