The Chargers are "eyeing Tailgate Park, currently home to about 1,000 of the Padres' best parking spots" as a spot for a new stadium, and if that happens, the city is "on the hook to replace the spots the Padres lose," according to Scott Lewis of the VOICE OF SAN DIEGO. The Padres currently "lease those spots from the city." If voters approve the Chargers initiative in the fall, the Padres want a "deal in place to ensure their parking spots would be there in the future." Padres Exec Chair Ron Fowler said, "The meeting ended with 'trust us.' ... There's no anti-Chargers feeling at all. We want to keep the Chargers in San Diego. We want to make sure the ability of fans to get to Petco and park is not harmed and we want to ensure that everyone in East Village gets a solution that maybe nobody is happy with but everyone can live with." Lewis noted the Padres are "worried about traffic issues," and also worried about "two, very large, digital billboards" the Chargers plan to erect near the stadium and convention center. The signs "could shine" until 2:00am PT every night and "could cause problems both for East Village residents and the Padres." Sponsors also "might prefer to advertise on those big Chargers billboards facing the rest of the city, rather than signs pointing to the inside of Petco Park." Fowler: "My preference is no signs like that should be available because it’s not in the best interest of East Village" (VOICEOFSANDIEGO.org, 8/4).
IN THE FRIAR PAN: In San Diego, Bryce Miller noted the Padres on Wednesday held a "'town hall' meeting for fans following the dizzying selloff of recent months." Fowler "complained about players he felt were sometimes inclined to simply show up." Fowler: "Most of ’em are gone, thank God." When asked about the attempt to bring in veterans like P James Shields, RF Matt Kemp and LF Justin Upton, Fowler said, "That was a bad experiment. The chemistry wasn't there. But we took a run at it." Miller wrote to the Padres credit, they "listened Wednesday" and "made ticket holders feel heard, valued and important." The team "opened the books, discussing how the millions were being spent." Padres President & CEO Mike Dee "earned applause for sharing that the team is reworking the new ticket-exchange policy that frustrated many fans." He collected more support announcing that the team "will return Friday night start times" back to 7:10pm (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/4).
