$141 Million Could Be Kicked in : Panel Expects Windfall From 1988 Super Bowl

The Jan. 31, 1988, Super Bowl will pump at least $141.2 million into the San Diego County economy if the annual National Football League championship game involves teams from outside Southern California, according to a study released Tuesday by the San Diego Super Bowl Task Force.

In addition, the county will “benefit substantially . . . from exposure to millions of potential vacationers throughout the world,” according to the economic impact report prepared by CIC Research Inc., a San Diego-based research firm.

The Super Bowl will create 376,000 days of employment for San Diego-area residents, according to the report, which was prepared at no cost to the task force.

The study also suggests that:

- Super Bowl XXII will generate at least $140 million if it involves one team from Los Angeles and one from outside California.

- If two Southern California teams participate, spending would drop to $129.8 million.

- Should the San Diego Chargers and a Los Angeles team meet in San Diego, spending would reach $121.6 million.

According to the study, the “average” visitor’s daily spending will include $40 for lodging, $45 for meals and beverages and $67 for “amusements, transportation, groceries, shopping” and other items.

Entertainment for Clients

In addition to the spending by football fans, the study suggests that out-of-town corporations could spend about $20 million to wine and dine clients at banquets, parties, receptions, hospitality suites and board meetings.

The nonprofit task force is creating a “watchdog committee” that will attempt to control “price gouging,” which has occurred in other cities that were hosts to the Super Bowl, task force Chairman Bob Payne said.

Releasing the study will “give credibility” to the task force, according to Payne, who has a $1.7-million budget that includes $500,000 in city money. The task force is spending $800,000 to add 13,000 temporary seats to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, raising its capacity to 75,000.