In its search to raise $4M for events at this January's
Super Bowl, the San Diego Host Committee "has asked the San
Diego Unified Port District to become a 'gold-level partner'
and donate $500,000," according to Barry Bloom of the SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Port commissioners will meet this
afternoon to vote on the matter. The Host Committee is
raising funds to pay for special events, staff, volunteer
training and "numerous items pledged" to the NFL. Bloom
writes that the Host Committee's fundraising effort "has
been stymied by limitations placed on the host city by the
NFL, which allows contributions only from official game
sponsors." As a result, the Host Committee cannot ask for
contributions from companies who compete with official NFL
sponsors such as Ford, McDonald's, UPS, Coca-Cola and Visa.
Port Commission Chair Mike McDade, on the few corporate
sponsorship opportunities remaining after the limitations
placed by the NFL: "The NFL cherry-picks the best sponsors.
They happen to be the best marketing organization known to
mankind. But there are only so many 'exclusives' and
'officials' to go around" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/17).
BEACH BASHED: An editorial in the Bergen RECORD titled,
"A Beach Party Gets Sacked," commented on two New Jersey
shore communities, Avalon and Stone Harbor, which refused to
host the NFL/Miller Labor Day Beach Party in their
communities. Stone Harbor officials "agreed to the concept,
then reversed field after being bombarded with complaints
from residents." NFL Dir of Corporate Communications Chris
Widmaier: "The whole idea is to create a fun weekend for our
fans. I'm optimistic that this is a concept that can be
used throughout the country" (Bergen RECORD, 7/15).
