San Diego Lawmakers Are Plotting Legislation that Would Totally Exempt Midway Rising From State Environmental Review

Last-minute state legislation could help Stan Kroenke-backed San Diego arena, prompting outcry

A state lawmaker from San Diego has proposed fast-tracking the construction of an arena and housing project, drawing criticism from opponents who argue the site is not suitable for large-scale development because of flooding.

San Diego Lawmakers Are Plotting Legislation that Would Totally Exempt Midway Rising From State Environmental Review

by Nadia Lathan / Voice of San Diego / August 18, 2026 They’re going for the wholesale workaround. San Diego lawmakers are weighing new legislation to allow San Diego’s Midway Rising project to bypass state environmental review — a pivot from earlier proposals that sought to exempt parts of the project from certain environmental rules. The Midway Rising plan involves a 16,0000-seat arena and roughly 4,250 housing units. Under the new proposal, t…