STOP C, the group that unsuccessfully opposed
Proposition C, the ballot measure approved in November '98
to build a new stadium for the Padres, "dismissed the
unveiling of a scale model" of the ballpark by team execs
and said that the public is "in the dark about the fiscal
realities" of the project, according to Philip LaVelle of
the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. STOP C co-Chair Diane Dixon
"urged the public" to call San Diego Mayor Susan Golding and
members of the City Council to "demand release of financial
and planning information currently being passed between team
and city officials." Padres President Larry Lucchino, on
STOP C: "I suppose they're concerned that we haven't given
them copies (of documents), but that's not our obligation or
our intention" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/16).
FAN FRIENDLY? Ballpark plans now have the facility
seating 46,000, up from "previous estimates" of 42,000.
Padres Senior VP/Public Affairs Charles Steinberg said the
team will incorporate "hundreds" of fans' ideas offered over
the past few months, such as "bullpens along the foul lines,
more aisles and unusual field dimensions." Lucchino, on the
new ballpark: "The seats are about as close to the playing
field as permissible, but not just at the first level.
We've pushed the second level and the third level as far
forward as any, and if you compared it to the other new
ballparks, you'll see that the sense of intimacy ... will be
second to none" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/14).
