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San Diego Union-Tribune
NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
Sports Council offers its plan for Qualcomm Stadium site
December 6, 2002
Abstract:
The group is also one of the high-profile backers of the ticket guarantee.
The guarantee assures the Chargers will receive revenue equivalent to
the sale of 60,000 tickets to each home game. Since 1997, the city has
paid more than $25 million for the guarantee.
"This is the same group that told us that they were going to guarantee
the ticket guarantee," said attorney Mike Aguirre, who sued the Chargers
this week alleging unfair business practices. "They told us that
in 1995, 1997, and it was never true. It would not be reasonable to rely
on their representations now."
1 PIC; [Jim Bailey], standing in front of a concept drawing of the Qualcomm
site, spoke about the San Diego International Sports Council's proposal
for the property. The plan includes a new stadium. (B-4:1,7,8; B-6:1);
Credit: K.C. Alfred / Union-Tribune
Full Text:
Copyright SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY Dec 6, 2002
Editions vary
For months, the debate over the Chargers' future in San Diego has been
dominated by talk of lawsuits, triggers, phantom seats and the threat
of the team moving.
But a group of prominent sports business entrepreneurs last night tried
to shift the discussion, inviting people to dream about what could be
done with the 166-acre site where Qualcomm Stadium sits.
Leaders from the San Diego International Sports Council unveiled their
own stadium redevelopment proposal to the Citizens' Task Force on Chargers
Issues.
"We felt it was more important to focus on potential solutions rather
than history," said Sports Council board chairman Bill Allen.
The nonprofit group, which attempts to promote the region as a venue for
large sporting events, has a board of directors representing fields --
such as travel, media and hotels -- with connections to sports.
Herb Klein, editor in chief of Copley Newspapers, is a board member.
The group is also one of the high-profile backers of the ticket guarantee.
The guarantee assures the Chargers will receive revenue equivalent to
the sale of 60,000 tickets to each home game. Since 1997, the city has
paid more than $25 million for the guarantee.
During the approval process for the current city lease with the Chargers,
the Sports Council agreed to help market tickets. Political leaders touted
the commitment as a virtual guarantee against high payouts.
The stadium design proposal was initially commissioned by a group of North
County businessmen led by Ron Fowler, a beer distributor with ties to
the Sports Council.
But Allen said his group took over the concept because the "Sports
Council is the right vehicle from a public perception point of view."
The group hired sports consultant Jim Bailey, a former Cleveland Browns
executive.
Bailey said the idea for the stadium proposal is to make the project "self-sufficient"
by including retail and housing developments alongside a stadium.
"This exercise is a way to show it all fits," Bailey said.
The group's project revolves around having the city giving or leasing
the 166-acre site to a private developer. After building a stadium --
which would be managed by a private company -- the developer would turn
profits by building the retail and housing aspects, Bailey said.
"It doesn't impact the general fund," Bailey said. "That's
the key."
However, Bailey said the group's proposal has not been subjected to any
environmental or traffic studies to gauge how much development the site
could fit without large costs for infrastructure, such as street and sewer
improvements.
The group also does not have a plan for how such a development would be
financed in the interim, before the retail and housing developments netted
profits. However, Bailey said there may be a need for some short-term
financing, such as a bond.
Some said that given the Sports Council's lack of results on promises
regarding the ticket guarantee, its redevelopment ideas should be met
with skepticism.
"This is the same group that told us that they were going to guarantee
the ticket guarantee," said attorney Mike Aguirre, who sued the Chargers
this week alleging unfair business practices. "They told us that
in 1995, 1997, and it was never true. It would not be reasonable to rely
on their representations now."
Sports Council executive vice president Tory Nixon said the group made
a significant effort to market tickets. It just wasn't very successful.
"The Sports Council made the effort to hire and have people out in
the streets selling tickets," he said.
While Chargers spokesman Mark Fabiani said he had limited knowledge of
the proposal, he said the idea was on the right track.
"It speaks to the whole community, not just football fans,"
he said.
Regarding the plan's lack of details, Fabiani added, "This is hard
stuff. The Chargers are spending millions on their plan and it takes a
great amount of community input."
Allen said the group's goal wasn't to figure everything out.
"This may not be the ultimate solution," he said. "But
hopefully, it will jump-start the dialogue."
Norberto Santana: (619) 718-5069; norberto.santana@uniontrib.com
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