Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

AEG and H&S lobbyists vying for fresh Sports Arena deal

San Diego seeks new operators

San Diego Sports Arena was built in 1966.
San Diego Sports Arena was built in 1966.

After more than a year of closed-door negotiations with AEG Worldwide to extend the company's lease of what is currently known as Pechanga Arena San Diego, the city has launched a public solicitation for possible new operators.

"The City is seeking proposals that reflect the City’s desire to have an operator who provides a high level of service to the local and regional community, while operating the Property in a fiscally responsible manner," says an April 23 Request for Proposals by the real estate assets department, with a closing date of May 31.

The current lease runs out in May of next year. According to previous accounts, AEG has been seeking to extend the contract from five to seven years. But rumors have been swirling regarding plans by other developers who covet the location to remake the property.

Sponsored
Sponsored

In October 2017, lobbyist California Strategies disclosed that it had been retained by Orange County-based H&S Ventures, LLC, owner of the Gulls hockey team an arena tenant, to seek either “improvement” of the venue or “entitlement of a facility in the San Diego region to host the San Diego Gulls, an American Hockey League team.”

For its part, incumbent leaseholder AEG has ingratiated itself with mayor Kevin Faulconer by way of $5000 the entertainment giant kicked in for One San Diego, Faulconer's non-profit operation, in March 2018. On April 16 of this year, AEG hired the lobbying outfit of Southwest Strategies to lobby for a "short term lease extension for Sports Arena facility," per Southwest's disclosure filing.

The city's Request for Proposals appears to meet at least one of AEG's key objectives. "The goal of this solicitation is to enter into a short-term lease of no more than three years," the document says. "The Lease may contain a provision authorizing the Lessee to request up to two one year extensions. However, any extensions will be granted in the City’s sole discretion. "

"It is of the utmost importance to the City to have continuity in the operation of the Property, including the event types and usages that are currently common and ongoing for the Property. It is the City’s desire that Property continue to operate with minimal if any interruption in service to the regional community."

Formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena, the building built in 1966 currently generates $594,806 a year for the city from rent participation, including 15 percent of the parking lot usage take, amounting to $366,302, and 20 percent of the swap meet usage rental, at $157,555, for last fiscal year, per the document.

The amount of future rent remains open, per the solicitation. "City may, at its option, adjust the Percentage Rent upward to fair-market Percentage Rent. Percentage Rent increases shall be determined by qualified CITY staff which rates shall only be higher, not lower, than the then-current percentage rates."

"Having opened in 1966, the Sports Arena is currently home to the San Diego Gulls AHL hockey, the San Diego Seals indoor lacrosse team and San Diego Sockers North American Soccer League team. On average, the Sports Arena hosts approximately 145 events and sees over 650,000 visitors each year and can seat upwards of 16,000 visitors.

"The Sports Arena has been a major concert attraction for the region and has attracted performers such as Justin Timberlake and Elton John. Since the 1980s, the parking lot of the Property has also been home to the Kobey Swap Meet; an enjoyable fixture within the community which draws roughly 30,000-40,000 shoppers weekly."

In September of last year, the city council ratified controversial plans to redevelop the bulk of the city-owned surrounding retail property for intensive commercial and residential uses, leaving the question of the arena's long-term future for another day.

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Live Five: Rebecca Jade, Stoney B. Blues, Manzanita Blues, Blame Betty, Marujah

Holiday music, blues, rockabilly, and record releases in Carlsbad, San Carlos, Little Italy, downtown
Next Article

Live Five: Rebecca Jade, Stoney B. Blues, Manzanita Blues, Blame Betty, Marujah

Holiday music, blues, rockabilly, and record releases in Carlsbad, San Carlos, Little Italy, downtown
San Diego Sports Arena was built in 1966.
San Diego Sports Arena was built in 1966.

After more than a year of closed-door negotiations with AEG Worldwide to extend the company's lease of what is currently known as Pechanga Arena San Diego, the city has launched a public solicitation for possible new operators.

"The City is seeking proposals that reflect the City’s desire to have an operator who provides a high level of service to the local and regional community, while operating the Property in a fiscally responsible manner," says an April 23 Request for Proposals by the real estate assets department, with a closing date of May 31.

The current lease runs out in May of next year. According to previous accounts, AEG has been seeking to extend the contract from five to seven years. But rumors have been swirling regarding plans by other developers who covet the location to remake the property.

Sponsored
Sponsored

In October 2017, lobbyist California Strategies disclosed that it had been retained by Orange County-based H&S Ventures, LLC, owner of the Gulls hockey team an arena tenant, to seek either “improvement” of the venue or “entitlement of a facility in the San Diego region to host the San Diego Gulls, an American Hockey League team.”

For its part, incumbent leaseholder AEG has ingratiated itself with mayor Kevin Faulconer by way of $5000 the entertainment giant kicked in for One San Diego, Faulconer's non-profit operation, in March 2018. On April 16 of this year, AEG hired the lobbying outfit of Southwest Strategies to lobby for a "short term lease extension for Sports Arena facility," per Southwest's disclosure filing.

The city's Request for Proposals appears to meet at least one of AEG's key objectives. "The goal of this solicitation is to enter into a short-term lease of no more than three years," the document says. "The Lease may contain a provision authorizing the Lessee to request up to two one year extensions. However, any extensions will be granted in the City’s sole discretion. "

"It is of the utmost importance to the City to have continuity in the operation of the Property, including the event types and usages that are currently common and ongoing for the Property. It is the City’s desire that Property continue to operate with minimal if any interruption in service to the regional community."

Formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena, the building built in 1966 currently generates $594,806 a year for the city from rent participation, including 15 percent of the parking lot usage take, amounting to $366,302, and 20 percent of the swap meet usage rental, at $157,555, for last fiscal year, per the document.

The amount of future rent remains open, per the solicitation. "City may, at its option, adjust the Percentage Rent upward to fair-market Percentage Rent. Percentage Rent increases shall be determined by qualified CITY staff which rates shall only be higher, not lower, than the then-current percentage rates."

"Having opened in 1966, the Sports Arena is currently home to the San Diego Gulls AHL hockey, the San Diego Seals indoor lacrosse team and San Diego Sockers North American Soccer League team. On average, the Sports Arena hosts approximately 145 events and sees over 650,000 visitors each year and can seat upwards of 16,000 visitors.

"The Sports Arena has been a major concert attraction for the region and has attracted performers such as Justin Timberlake and Elton John. Since the 1980s, the parking lot of the Property has also been home to the Kobey Swap Meet; an enjoyable fixture within the community which draws roughly 30,000-40,000 shoppers weekly."

In September of last year, the city council ratified controversial plans to redevelop the bulk of the city-owned surrounding retail property for intensive commercial and residential uses, leaving the question of the arena's long-term future for another day.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Operatic Gender Wars

Are there any operas with all-female choruses?
Next Article

Too $hort & DJ Symphony, Peppermint Beach Club, Holidays at the Zoo

Events December 19-December 21, 2024
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader