San Diego Finds Success In Mexico-Venezuela Soccer Friendly

City Of San Diego Cashes In On Venezuela-Mexico Match

Qualcomm Stadium Manager Erik Stover estimated that the city of San Diego “‘conservatively’ cleared $350,000 and as much as $375,000” from the February 28 friendly between the Mexico and Venezuela national soccer teams, according to Mark Zeigler of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. He estimated the match generated $75,000 in rent, $190,000 in parking and $100,000 from concessions. The contest drew 63,328 fans, the largest crowd ever to watch a soccer match in San Diego, and produced a gate of more than $2M. Qualcomm Stadium’s take for the match was more than the Holiday Bowl or Poinsettia Bowl, which Stover said made $342,000 and $200,000, respectively. The take is also “far more than the entire Chargers season,” during which the city lost at least $400,000. Qualcomm Stadium had not hosted a soccer match since ’03, but Stover said that he “already is in talks to bring several ‘major’ events to San Diego, perhaps as soon as later this year” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/14).