San Diego FC is looking to pick up a handful of players from around the MLS in the expansion draft Wednesday.

Why it matters: As the league's newest team, this draft is a unique opportunity for the club to build its roster ahead of their 2025 inaugural season that kicks off in February.

How it works: San Diego FC can select up to five eligible players from other teams, but only one from a single team, according to MLS rules.

• The pool is deeper than ever with 29 teams in the league, each of which have up to 30 players on their rosters. 
• Teams can protect 12 players from their 2024 senior and supplemental rosters, with some stipulations. The list of eligible players who San Diego can take will be released Tuesday.
• SDFC has three minutes to make each selection, and unlike a normal draft, no trades are permitted.

Follow the money: Clubs that lose a player will receive an extra $50,000 to spend on player salaries. 

What they're saying: "We fully expect there's going to be some very good players [available]," SDFC sporting director Tyler Heaps told MLSsoccer.com.

• "I've had many conversations with clubs around the league, and you can see some that are panicking and some that are quite calm in it, just because they know what they're going to have to potentially leave unprotected," he said.

State of play: San Diego FC is shaping up to be a flexible, youth-focused club with its residential development academy and six players already signed. 

• So far, the official roster includes local goalkeeper Duran Ferree, Marcus Ingvartsen, Paddy McNair, Alex Mighten, Jeppe Tverskov and Mexican star Hirving "Chucky" Lozano — the teams' first designated player.

Driving the news: SDFC is hosting a live show at its retail shop Eighteen Threads at the Mission Valley Mall Wednesday at 7:30pm. Some fans who RSVP will announce the picks.

• Heaps and head coach Mikey Varas will do a Q&A session at 6:30pm.
• The show will also be broadcast live on SanDiegoFC.com and FOX5 with expert analysts.

What's next

The gap between San Diego's incomes and its housing prices might be ticking down, but housing in the region remains far more unaffordable than the rest of the country.

By the numbers: In 2023, San Diego's median sales price for existing single-family homes was 8.9 times the region's median household income, down from 9.2 the previous year, according to Harvard researchers from the Joint Center for Housing Studies.

• By that standard, starting from 1990, housing affordability in San Diego was at its lowest point in 2005, during the height of the housing boom, when sales prices were 10.3 times higher than incomes.

The big picture: Nationwide, the median price of existing single family homes last year was 4.9 times greater than the median household income.

• San Diego's price-to-income ratio hasn't been that low since 1999.

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🪷 Balboa Park's picturesque Botanical Building is officially reopen after being closed for three years for a $28 million restoration. (Axios)

👶 Voters in three California jurisdictions this year passed ballot measures securing funding for child care and youth programs, giving San Diego child care advocates hope for a potential local ballot measure. (KPBS)

🔎 County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe is looking to increase civilian oversight of the San Diego County Sheriff's department, including over jail medical providers. (Union-Tribune)

A new documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at the $550 million renovation of the iconic Hotel Del Coronado.

Driving the news: The first part of "Historic Places with Elsa Sevilla: Hotel del Coronado Restoration" airs tonight on KPBS.

Zoom in: San Diego media production company, Sevilla Productions, has been filming the historic landmark's restoration process since the project began in 2018. 

• The final phase is expected to be completed by March, when reservations open for the newly restored Victorian building guest rooms.
• The series also features the history of Coronado and the people who built the hotel and the city.

What's next: The second episode airs Dec. 16. The third and final episode is still in production and will air next June.

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A dynasty has taken hold at the Sono Fest & Chili Cook Off.

Driving the news: Bivouac Ciderworks won best chili in the overall category of the popular North Park event, and took home the people's choice category, too, with its smoked white chicken chili.

• That's now five consecutive years they've won at least one category in the competition, which draws acclaimed restaurants from all over town.
• Cori Pastificio Trattoria took home the most unique category, and Haven Pizzeria won best vegetarian.

Catch up quick: 100% of event proceeds benefit McKinley Elementary's art, dance, music, Spanish and International Baccalaureate programs.