CHARGER NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Chargers Might Be Hot, but Tickets for Sunday Are Not
The Chargers, 8 1/2-point favorites over Tampa Bay and winners of five of their last six games, are talking playoffs, but the ticket-buying public has yet to respond.
The Chargers (5-5) have distributed fewer than 40,000 tickets for Sunday’s game at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, and although they expect a crowd of 43,000 to 45,000, ticket sales are dramatically down from last season when the team finished 4-12.
The Chargers distributed an average of 51,901 tickets a game last season, including a sellout with the Raiders. This season, they are averaging 46,549.
“I don’t know why,” said Joe Scott, the Chargers’ ticket manager. “Since that time when we were 0-4 earlier this season, we have been entertaining, we’ve come from behind, we’ve won in the last minutes, we’ve done all the kinds of things that you would want.
“I’m selling entertainment and I think we’re playing entertaining football. Frankly, it’s frustrating to me.”
This week there has been a noticeable difference in activity at the ticket windows at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. There has been a long line waiting to purchase Aztec tickets for Saturday’s game with Fresno State, which will decide the WAC championship, and almost no wait for Charger tickets.
“We’ve distributed about 45,000 tickets for Fresno State and 52,000 for next week’s game with Miami,” said Vickie Ihde, SDSU’s ticket manager. “I think the significance of the games is a factor in ticket sales, and I think Marshall Faulk has had a lot to do with sales. We’ve received a lot more local and national recognition because of him.”
The pricing structure for Aztec tickets is much lower than for Charger tickets, and as Scott pointed out, “I’m not trying to downgrade State, but the reality is when you go there you’re going to see a Marshall Faulk, well, this is a field full of Marshall Faulks.
“This is a whole level of play that’s different, and people should recognize that fact. You’re going to come here and see what was the elite of college football. And now they’re the elite of the NFL.”
The schedule maker, while giving the Chargers a good shot at making the playoffs, has not filled the slate this season with attention-grabbers. In addition to their AFC West regulars, the Chargers play at home against the Colts, Bucs, Steelers and Bengals.
“This game with Tampa is very close to the Raider game and that has a definite impact,” Scott said. “These are tough times for people, and where people may have gone to many games in the past, maybe they are picking a few now. And when they cherry-pick a schedule I think it leaves the Raiders and Denver in the lead, and the Colts and Tampas and such behind. So we’re paying the price for that.”
The Chargers have distributed more than 50,000 tickets for next week’s game with the Raiders. The local TV blackout has been lifted for the past 14 years for the Raiders’ game, but whether this season’s game is a sellout will go right down to the deadline, Scott said.
The Chargers must sell out before 5 p.m. next Thursday, but since Thursday is Thanksgiving the Chargers have asked the league to extend the deadline.
“I’m frustrated that people don’t respond better to us winning, but that just takes time,” Scott said. “People are obviously interested in the San Diego Chargers again because we’re hearing that at the windows. But it doesn’t happen overnight.
“The fact we’re going to have 45,000 instead of 55,000 this weekend is evidence that people are waiting to see if we’re for real.”
Tampa Bay coach Sam Wyche reacted Wednesday to suggestions in print recently that the Chargers have a “Mutts-R-Us” remaining schedule.
“We feel like just a bunch of mutts coming in there,” Wyche said. “We’re not through playing this season, but they’re ahead of us right now. We concede that one.
“They’re a playoff-caliber team, I’ll say that without reservation.”
Coach Bobby Ross told his team to pay no attention to media suggestions that they have an easy schedule.
“I made mention to them the fact that there are 15 teams in the league right who are 4-6, 5-5 or 6-4,” Ross said, “which means everybody feels like they got some kind of chance. We’re no different than anybody else, and I just reminded them that execution doesn’t come automatically, it comes with preparation.”
The players apparently listened.
“It’s all about preparation,” said tackle Broderick Thompson. “You saw what happened last week with the Rams and Dallas. That was supposed to be a laugher. We can’t look past Tampa, and I doubt anybody on this squad is looking past Tampa.”
The Chargers announced they are going to reopen their Hall of Fame.
A five-member selection committee, which includes Dean Spanos, the Chargers’ vice chairman; Bob Breitbard, founder of the San Diego Hall of Champions; Ron Fowler, president of the Greater San Diego Sports Assn.; Jane Rappoport, president of the Charger Backers; and Bill Johnston, Chargers’ director of public relations.
The team will announce the names of the 1993 inductees at the Nov. 29 Charger-Raider game. The actual induction ceremonies will take place next season.
Players such as quarterback Dan Fouts, wide receiver Charlie Joiner, offensive linemen Russ Washington, Doug Wilkerson and Don Macek and tight end Kellen Winslow have been ignored in recent years, along with former Coach Don Coryell.
The Chargers have not inducted anyone into their Hall of Fame since 1986, when defensive end Earl Faison was honored. The Chargers currently list 16 members in their Hall of Fame.