The Chargers are "restructuring season ticket prices" for '15 by "lowering the cost of the worst seats and raising prices on the best general seats," according to Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Prices on "approximately half -- more than 30,000 -- of Qualcomm Stadium’s seats will be unchanged or lowered." Current season-ticket holders Friday "were notified of the changes via e-mail." Single-game prices, or whether the team "will package its more attractive games," such as against the Steelers, Bears and Broncos with preseason games, are "not established yet." That tactic "is one the team used in prior seasons," but not in '14. Among the ticket prices lowered "will be 9,000 seats priced at $67 per game." The lowest season-ticket price "is $39 per game, same as last year." The price for club seats "remain unchanged." Tickets for the seats in "prime locations -- field, sideline plaza and press -- are being raised" about 10%, from $110 to $120 per game. The Chargers said that that increase is "in line with similar locations in stadiums around the NFL." The team "had more than 49,000 season ticket holders last year" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/31).
A NEW CHARGE: The UNION-TRIBUNE's Acee noted San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer at Petco Park on Friday introduced the advisory committee he "assembled to come up with a plan to build a new stadium" for the Chargers. Faulconer’s task force, "made up of business and civic leaders, has been charged with developing by the fall a plan to keep the Chargers in San Diego." That includes "suggesting a site and the best way to finance construction that is projected to cost" around $1B. The Chargers earlier this month "expressed skepticism about the task force." It is expected a measure regarding the public’s portion of stadium financing "would be placed on the ballot" in November '16. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday said the Chargers need a new stadium "for the fans." He added, "It’s important for the franchise, so they can remain competitive, but it’s also important for the fans because fans expect those amenities now" (
UTSANDIEGO.com, 1/30). A SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE editorial stated in regards to the task force, there is "solid reason for optimism that this time it will be different, that this time it will succeed," despite a "history of failure of many similar groups." The group "is packed with the right mix of expertise," including the likes of former NFL exec Jim Steeg. It also has "unparalleled government and public finance expertise" and "political savvy." There are "no representatives of the Chargers on the task force." Businessman Steve Cushman, a "Chargers nemesis," is not on it either. Faulconer "rightly wanted to keep the group small and unencumbered by members with a direct stake in the outcome." Their task "will hardly be easy." But this is a group "that can get it done" (
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/31).
