NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "warned" that the NFL
may "pull" the '98 Super Bowl out of San Diego if a judge
allows the full renovation of Jack Murphy Stadium to be put
to a referendum, according to La Velle & Magee of the SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. On Friday, Tagliabue said Super Bowl
XXXII would be held in San Diego as planned if the possible
referendum was limited to $18M in "extras" approved in
December by the San Diego City Council. Tagliabue: "If it
becomes an issue of $18 million, if that is the sole issue
which is challenged, then I think we'll go forward with the
Super Bowl in San Diego, without question. But if the issue
expands to the $60 million which was previously approved and
becomes a $78 million issue, we're going to have to look at
alternative places to play the Super Bowl." Tagliabue also
"suggested" that the Chargers may have to look for
alternative places to play their '97 regular season.
Chargers Owner Alex Spanos: "On my word, the last thing I
want to do is play our football games someplace else" (SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/25).
ROUND 1 TO EXPANSION FOES: In a "tentative ruling,"
Superior Court Judge Anthony Joseph "refused" the city's
request to dismiss arguments that a ballot measure should
encompass the whole $78M expansion project. If the
tentative ruling stands, a trial tentatively set for
February 15 would debate the referendum's scope (SAN DIEGO
UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/25). UNION-TRIBUNE Columnist Tom Cushman:
"We're all involved in what amounts to a referendum on
whether or not we want professional sports in San Diego"
(SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/26).
