The Los Angeles Chargers have reached an agreement with the City of Costa Mesa to hold the team's training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, the team announced Tuesday. The Jack Hammett Sports Complex is located at 2750 Fairview Road, adjacent to Costa Mesa High School.
A summer tradition for Chargers fans and the entire family alike, the team's annual training camp takes place starting in late July and runs through late August. The intimate setting of training camp offers fans of all ages a chance to watch practice and cheer for their favorite players within feet of the practice field. Fans also have the opportunity to meet players after practices, receive autographs, enjoy interactive games, and meet Charger Girls and great Chargers alumni.
"We are proud to hold our training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex and feel it's going to be a tremendous location for us to prepare for the upcoming season," said Chargers President-Football Operations, John Spanos. "We are very excited to create this partnership and grateful for the Costa Mesa City Council and their hard work in making it happen."
"Training camp is the most important time of the year for developing our football team," said Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco. "While it's a lot of hard work for the players and coaches, we hope that Chargers fans and their kids will come out to watch and have fun at training camp. Some of my best football memories are the times I spent with my dad watching the (Buffalo) Bills at their training camp in Upstate New York. I am proud that we can start this tradition and create new memories in Costa Mesa."
The Jack Hammett Sports Complex features six fields and serves as a hub of youth sports in Costa Mesa, including soccer and flag football.
"This is going to be a great location for both players and fans," said Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn. "We're going to work hard, because that's what training camp is for, but we also want it to be a fun place for our fans to come out to watch us practice and get to know our team."
The agreement between the Chargers and the City of Costa Mesa allows the Chargers to use the Jack Hammett Sports Complex for the team's training camp for up to 10 years. It allows the Chargers to use the facility for three to five weeks per year. There also is a provision for the team to use the sports complex for one week during its annual bye week, which varies year-to-year but typically occurs in the middle of the NFL season. The Chargers will make improvements to the complex, estimated at approximately $1 million, and pay $150,000 in rent annually. The team also will make a one-time contribution of $50,000 toward the City of Costa Mesa's new Mobile Recreation Program Van and a $10,000 donation to the youth soccer organization AYSO #120.
The Jack Hammett Sports Complex previously served as a training site for both the University of Alabama and Florida State University in preparation for their respective national championship games at the Rose Bowl in 2010 and 2014.
The Chargers previously announced plans to relocate the team's corporate headquarters and regular-season practice fields to The Hive, a multi-unit office complex located at 3333 Susan Street in Costa Mesa.
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