Aztecs to Put Sponsor Signs in Stands at Jack Murphy

A compromise was reached Friday in the dispute over San Diego State’s placement of billboards at its home football games at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Athletic Director Fred Miller said.

The Aztecs will not be permitted to display billboards promoting their corporate sponsors along the sidelines as they did during their opener Sept. 11 against Air Force, Miller said, but instead will be allowed to hang sponsorship banners in the stands.

Miller said the verbal agreement with the Padres and the city also prohibits the Aztecs from displaying banners that conflict with Padre advertisers in the stadium. Such companies could be recognized only with banners at special events sponsored by the companies, Miller said.

He said this only would affect Mesa Distributing Co., a San Diego-based distributor of beer and other beverages.

The compromise was reached in time for the Aztecs’ second home game tonight against Oregon.

“This is a win-win situation,” Miller said. “This is a good working compromise.”

The Padres had objected to the Aztecs’ use of the billboards because they contend their lease gives them exclusive rights to sell stadium advertising and that other tenants may only advertise game-day sponsors. The agreement was part of a lease in which the Padres agreed to build the $6 million right-field scoreboard in exchange for sharing stadium advertising revenue with the city.

Miller said school officials believed the Padres should not dictate advertising policy in a city-owned facility. The stadium displays are part of the Aztecs’ corporate sponsorship program, which officials say will raise $800,000 in cash and services in its first year. It promises stadium signs and other promotional activities in exchange for fees up to $75,000 per year.

Neither Jack Freeman, Padre executive vice president, nor Jack McGrory, assistant city manager, could be reached for comment.