Menu
Franchises

Chargers Chair Dean Spanos Reflects On Decision To Relocate Six Months After Move

Chargers Chair Dean Spanos exercised the option to relocate the team to L.A. six months ago, and the "whirlwind that ensued has been breathtaking," according to Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. For each "severed business connection, a handful of others emerge." For every "strained political relationship, the seeds for 20 others are planted." A new home office and practice facility "needed to be identified, purchased and built." More than 200 employees "had to be relocated." Spanos said, "It’s not a process that will happen overnight or in one or even two years. This is a long-range process that we’ll keep chipping away at each and every day." He added, "When I look back, I don’t have a second thought about my decision to make the move." That "might seem callous" but with "so much at stake while operating in a crowded sports market that demands winning, excitement and star power, it’s a necessary mindset." Whatever regret over the "failure to forge a workable stadium partnership in San Diego has been replaced by enthusiasm for the new future." It will be "left to the historians ultimately to determine whose fault it was that a stadium partnership never came to be." As time goes on, Chargers President of Football Operations John Spanos and President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos will "emerge more and more as the leadership face of the franchise with their father easing into more of a patriarch role." However, Dean Spanos said that he will "play an integral part of the sales and marketing effort leading up to the move from their Chargers’ temporary home at StubHub Center to the new stadium in Inglewood." Simultaneously, he will "put his real estate and construction hat back on in the planning and construction of the Chargers’ permanent headquarters" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/16).

TEMPORARY DIGS: In California, Sandy Mazza noted the first major security upgrade in 14 years at StubHub Center was just "introduced to meet NFL safety standards." Backpacks and any nontransparent containers are now "off-limits inside the 30,000-seat stadium." The home of the Galaxy "enjoyed relatively lax standards until officials began preparing for the Aug. 13 start of the Chargers first L.A. preseason in 57 years." Along with "increased security, there will be added game-day free shuttle trips to the stadium." StubHub Center GM Katie Pandolfo said that she "expects Chargers games to go as smoothly as any other sold-out event at the stadium." While there is enough parking on site to handle sold-out crowds, Pandolfo said that she is "working with LA Metro and Long Beach Transit officials to deliver new public transit options" (DAILYBREEZE.com, 7/16).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 25, 2024

Motor City's big weekend; Kevin Warren's big bet; Bill Belichick's big makeover and the WNBA's big week continues

TNT’s Stan Van Gundy, ESPN’s Tim Reed, NBA Playoffs and NFL Draft

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN’s VP of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/07/17/Franchises/Chargers.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/07/17/Franchises/Chargers.aspx

CLOSE