A crowd of 63,149 at Sunday's Chargers game "wasn't
large enough" to meet the city's "controversial general
admission-seat guarantee," according to Barry Bloom of the
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. If the city "must refund" Sunday's
"full 5,000-seat commitment," it would fall $200,000 in
arrears, which comes in the form of a rent rebate 30 days
after each game. The city can get money back when the total
general admission ticket sales are tabulated at the end of
the season. On Sunday, Chargers Owner Alex Spanos "angrily
declared the guarantee a modest fee" to keep the team in San
Diego. Spanos: "At least it shows they want us here.
Baltimore gave Art Modell $75 million. And a 15-year lease
at a new stadium, rent free." He added that he "shunned
several more lucrative offers" to move the team. Spanos: "I
love San Diego. I intend to stay here and I don't want to
move. And I can't stand what everyone is doing knocking us
and knocking the city. Especially when you look at what
other cities have done." The club has "actively marketed"
its premium seats, having sold about 90%, and Spanos said
that for the first time the team will turn a "healthy
profit" this season (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/15).
