WHAT IN THE QUALCOMM IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?

           The NFL "will not sell about 2,700 obstructed view
     seats at Qualcomm Stadium for the Super Bowl, placing it
     below the league's designated 70,000-seat threshold" for the
     game, according to Barry Bloom of the SAN DIEGO UNION-
     TRIBUNE.  Meeting the Super Bowl capacity standard "was one
     of the primary reasons" the city expanded the stadium by
     10,000 seats during the past year, but "the unsuitability of
     the first seven rows along the sidelines may hurt the city's
     chances of hosting future Super Bowls."  NFL Dir of Special
     Events Jim Steeg has told San Diego city officials "that the
     seating shortfall will not affect" this year's game, but
     that the issue "needs to be addressed for all future bids." 
     Capacity for the game will be 67,500.  The obstructed seats
     are blocked by team benches, players, coaches, photographers
     and other "game-day personnel on both sides of the field." 
     Steeg added that the unused seats "would be covered" during
     the game (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/9).