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Many Charger season tickets bought in North County
By: DAVID STERRETT - Staff Writer | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- While the San Diego Chargers are considering moving to Oceanside, more than 8,800 of the team's season ticket holders already come from North County, according to statistics that the team provided the North County Times.
A breakdown shows that about 20,000 of the NFL team's season ticket holders are from the city of San Diego, 4,300 are from the South Bay, 7,400 are from East County, 8,500 are from Orange and Riverside counties, and 4,500 come from outside the state. The rest of the team's ticket holders come from other counties in the state.
The Chargers have said that Oceanside could be an appealing new home because of the team's strong fan base in North County and because of the proximity to Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
The ticket statistics in all likelihood reflect inflated numbers of season ticket holders from the city of San Diego and underestimate the numbers of ticket holders from North County, said Mark Fabiani, the team's lead negotiator on stadium issues.
Fabiani said that's because the statistics are based on the addresses of ticket holder accounts and that many fans have tickets sent to their offices or go through brokers based in San Diego.
For example, some North County and South Bay residents probably have tickets sent to their offices in Carmel Valley or La Jolla, inflating season ticket numbers for the city of San Diego.
"There is no question the number of tickets from North County would be higher," Fabiani said.
He said the team will have consultants analyze the location of its season ticket holders before moving the team to another city. Chargers officials have said they want to leave aging Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley within the next decade for a state-of-the-art facility that could generate more money.
Team officials have said they want to stay in San Diego County and have identified Chula Vista, National City and an approximately 70-acre, city-owned golf course in Oceanside as potential homes.
Fabiani said that no matter where the team moves, it expects to gain some fans and lose others.
But he said, the goal is to build a stadium "within easy striking distance of major population centers."
"I clearly think this is the case with Oceanside," he added.
About 1,000 tickets come from Oceanside, and about 1,500 come from Carlsbad, according to the statistics.
The figures show there are about 6,000 ticket holders in the heart of North County ---- Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marco, Escondido and Encinitas. In the South Bay, there are 2,800 ticket holders in Chula Vista, 370 in National City and 200 in Imperial Beach.
About 25 percent of the team's total season tickets come from outside the county, and 7 percent come from outside the state.
The team's statistics show that 4,200 season ticket holders are in Orange County, another 4,200 ticket holders are in Riverside County, and 3,500 ticket holders are from Los Angeles.
Fabiani said team officials haven't tracked the location of ticket holders in previous years, but that they believe the number of ticket holders from counties to the north are growing based on anecdotal evidence.
He said the team is receiving more media coverage in counties to the north than in previous years, and that trains from Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties are packed on game days.
Most of the 4,500 season ticket holders outside of California come from the Las Vegas and Phoenix areas, Fabiani said.
"It appears we are winning over more fans," he said.
Fabiani said the team is selling about 30 season tickets a day, and that the number of season tickets sold has increased from 34,000 in 2004 to more than 62,000 today. He said the team has about 4,000 more tickets to sell.
Season tickets for eight regular season games and two preseason games range from $450 for a seat at the top of the stadium to $810 for a seat near midfield in the lower levels.
Fabiani said the team's ticket prices are comparable to others around the National Football League.
The Denver Broncos, an AFC West rival of the Chargers, have season tickets ranging from $390 to $1,000. But there is a waiting list of 24,000 for season tickets, with an estimated waiting time of seven to 10 years, according to the ticket office.
The team has ticket holders from every state, and many fans travel from Utah, New Mexico, South Dakota and Nebraska, said Kirk Dyer, the Broncos' executive director of ticket operations and administration.
He said a majority of the fan base probably comes from the Denver area, but that probably 10 percent to 15 percent come from outside of the state.
San Francisco 49ers officials said Wednesday that about 20 percent of the team's season ticket holders come from at least 70 miles away from the stadium, and less than 10 percent come from the city of San Francisco. The 49ers season tickets range from $250 a seat to $490 a seat.
The Seattle Seahawks said they haven't set the price for tickets next season, but last year, a season tickets ranged from $290 to $700.
Chuck Arnold, the team's director of ticket sales, said many fans come from Canada, Idaho, Oregon, and even Alaska to see the Seahawks, viewed by many as a regional team for the Pacific Northwest.
In contrast, between 85 percent to 90 percent of Jacksonville Jaguars' season ticket holders come from the five counties around the northeast Florida city, said Scott Loft, the executive director of sales and marketing. He said there are three teams in Florida and one in Georgia, all within a 10-hour drive.
-- Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com.
Who Cares? wrote on Feb 1, 2007 6:33 AM:The location of a large fan base is not enough to justify destroying my neighborhood!
Send them to Carlsbad wrote on Feb 1, 2007 6:35 AM:"The figures show there are about 6,000 ticket holders in the heart of North County ---- Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marco, " The stadium belongs in the city where most of the tickets were purchased. That isn't Oceanside. Why don't we put it next to Lego Land? Oh, how many of you REALLY think any of these NC residents will spend ONE RED CENT in Oceanside outside of purchasing the tickets? Get real.
Who cares? wrote on Feb 1, 2007 9:38 AM:In the NC TIMES interview with the Charger's attorney he clearly stated that they don't make profit on regular ticket holders. The premise of this article is entirely absurd. You needed to follow the money...look at big money coming from luxury seats, skyboxes, sponsors, the money coming from media....the ticket holders don't matter much in that equation.
Jack wrote on Feb 1, 2007 9:40 AM:The Chargers are playing games with the cities in southern California. They are looking for the highest bidder. Oceanside is the only city that will give them everything plus the kitchen sink.
CHARGER STADIUM GREAT FOR OCEANSIDE! wrote on Feb 1, 2007 11:48 AM:Let's cut to the deal and get going on our new Charger Stadium!! Put Oceanside on the map ~ build that stadium & develop our city for the good of all. Replace old outdated neighborhoods with high rises and let's outdo San Diego & its Gaslamp, Petco Park, whatever. A whole new era for Oceanside, going from just one more coastal burg to becoming a great and vibrant city!!! The sports capital of Southern California!!!
North County resident wrote wrote on Feb 1, 2007 12:05 PM:I appreciate peoples opinion on this subject. What people need to relize is even if you dont like sports, a large percentage of the people do. Any stadium will go to a vote and the people will decide. Yes, I want a stadium in North County. I also believe a stadium should go where people want it. Football is big business. For all involved! It has a positive economic impact on the area. That is a fact, it has been proven. That is why cities court these teams whether you like it or not! Bring a stadium to North County!
To Charger Stadium ... wrote on Feb 1, 2007 12:26 PM:Boy I hope you're joking. As an Oceanside resident, if I wanted all the San Diego has I would have moved there instead of here.
Foolish wrote on Feb 1, 2007 1:09 PM:The Chargers will go where the money is and the best deal for them..you can't seriously think they care about the 'people'....I predict they will take the National City site and leverage an income sharing agreement for free land from Chula vista..you know what that means...they will leave all the debts and ugly old stadium to the City of San Diego to deal with...just the kind of partners we need in Oceanside...No way!
O-Side Resident wrote on Feb 1, 2007 1:10 PM:Go Chula Vista!!!!
ESCO wrote on Feb 1, 2007 9:11 PM:Bring the CHARGERS TO THE CITY OF CHOICE ESCONDIDO
dkl wrote on Feb 1, 2007 9:28 PM:This reporter needs a fact checker. The prices quoted for season tickets are woefully low for each of the teams quoted.
OceanRes wrote on Feb 2, 2007 8:36 AM:I agree wholeheartedly with bringing the stadium to Oceanside. Jobs and income will be generated along with much needed cleanup around here. I vote yes.
GH wrote on Feb 3, 2007 10:14 AM:WE DO NO WANT A HUGE STADIUM ALONG WITH ALL OF THE TRAFFIC COMING TO OUR BEACH COMMUNITY--LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE-- THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY I GREW UP AND MOVED BACK TO IS ALREADY GETTING DESTROYED. DO NOT PUT A BIG OBTRUSIVE STADIUM ON ONE OF THE LAST LOW COST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. OCEANSIDE DOES NOT WANT THE STADIUM HERE!!
Dustin wrote on Feb 3, 2007 10:31 AM:As a lifetime San Diego and Charger fan, the Qualcom location is the most central location for all fans. Relocating the stadium to Oceanside is a ridiculous concept. As San Diego continues to absorb a spike in economic and population growth we are experiencing the loss of what makes San Diego such a special place to live. The community golf course in O'side is one of the few remaining few places where residents can enjoy golf for a nominal fee, besides the tranquility it provides to an otherwise busy city that is undergoing major redevelopment. Strategically the Mission Valley location is the only optimal inlet for all surrounding areas being the main artery where all freeways intersect.
Jack wrote on Feb 3, 2007 5:19 PM:A stadium in Oceanside is a very bad idea. It would be the biggest sports boondoggle since Candlestick Park. Leave the site to the golfers. The city will realize much more revenue in golf fees than a stadium could provide, and down the road, the golfers won't threaten to move to another city. Better alternatives: 1) The South Bay, either Chula Vista or National City. Both good locations that are freeway-friendly. 2)The old Balboa Stadium site, with parking garages built that could also serve adjacent San Diego City College, which has always had parking issues. 3) Jack Murphy's original idea of a "floating stadium" in Mission Bay. What a tourist attraction that would be. Barring these or any other viable idea, let the ornery rascals move to L.A. or Las Vegas or Elko. If they can't be flexible with municipalities, who needs the aggrevation?
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