Firm Says It Will Pay $18 Million for Name of Stadium in San Diego

Qualcomm Stadium?

Officials of a company seeking to market its wireless telephone system nationwide said Friday that the firm is ready to step up with $18 million to help pay for renovation of Jack Murphy Stadium and save the 1997 Charger season and ’98 Super Bowl for the facility.

All it will cost is the name of the stadium, which carries that of a former San Diego Union sports editor who was instrumental in getting it built and in spiriting the Chargers out of Los Angeles.

Qualcomm’s proposal is the latest installment in a bitter dispute involving a $78-million stadium renovation. The Chargers, the Padres and the City Council must still approve the deal, which was presented to the council this week in a closed meeting. The panel is expected to consider the offer Tuesday in a public meeting.

A lawsuit has been filed to halt construction on the stadium renovations, pending voter approval of the expenditure, and a San Diego judge is scheduled to rule on it Thursday.

The NFL has already met with Pasadena and Rose Bowl officials on a contingency plan should the stadium not be ready to host the Super Bowl.