SAN DIEGO - The City Council can retroactively ratify the agreement that temporarily changed the name of Qualcomm Stadium but doesn't have to, the City Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
An aide to City Council President Tony Young said there were no immediate plans to take up the issue, which drew criticism from the public when it was revealed that Mayor Jerry Sanders ignored legal advice that the deal violated terms of Qualcomm's stadium naming rights contract with the city.
A memo issued by City Attorney Jan Goldsmith before the renaming to "Snapdragon Stadium" took effect said he and the City Council would have to ratify the agreement, in which the company promoted its new mobile processor.
Sanders went ahead with the renaming anyway, which lasted for 11 days in December during which the facility played host to three nationally televised football games -- a Sunday night contest between the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, and the Holiday and Poinsettia bowls.
Sanders later said that going forward "was for the greater good of our community."
"Helping one of our largest employers execute a creative promotion of a San Diego innovation was a no-brainer," Sanders said.
Qualcomm paid more than $1,000 to compensate the city for staff time.
Critics called the deal a giveaway to one of Sanders' top supporters and questioned why he would ignore legal advice from Goldsmith.
If the City Council gives retroactive approval, Goldsmith will follow suit, according to a memo released today by Deputy City Attorney Carrie Gleeson. If council members don't give such support, the deal will remain invalid.
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