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

An empty Holiday Bowl still means a fat check

Chief of city-subsidized bowl association paid $324,329

Bruce Binkowski
Bruce Binkowski

Local innkeepers and restaurateurs hoping to make a killing on this year's Holiday Bowl battle between the University of Nebraska and the University of Southern California may have to lower their expectations, judging from an account in the Omaha World-Herald.

Not only is USC within easy driving distance, possibly resulting in fewer hotel stays, it turns out that Nebraska fans aren't that excited about plunking down their money for the trip out west.

Noting that "the Huskers played in the Holiday Bowl following the 2009 and 2010 seasons, which might dampen interest in this trip," the paper reported Monday that two big Omaha travel agencies have decided not to charter planes to the game.

“We talked about it but were concerned about the repeat trip to the Holiday Bowl,” Peg Gullikson of Omaha's Travel and Transport told the paper. “And if the alumni association didn’t feel like they would fill a charter plane, we probably couldn’t do it.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

Added the paper, "fans traveling to the bowl could also be hurt by high airfares during the Christmas season. Round-trip tickets from Omaha on Monday started at $755 for a Dec. 26 arrival and a Dec. 29 departure."

A wintery road trip here would be a little cheaper, if more hazardous.

"Fans thinking of a round-trip, 3,190-mile drive from Omaha to San Diego will benefit from falling gas prices," the story noted. "A 2012 Toyota Camry making the trip would use an estimated 127 gallons of gas, costing about $360."

News that the local tourism establishment's prime December sports show may not be all that it’s been cracked up to be, visitor-wise, is seldom, if ever, acknowledged in public here.

The game is subsidized by hotel taxes handed out by the board of the Tourism Marketing District, a group of wealthy Republican hotel moguls, including Atlas Hotel's Terry Brown and Evans Hotels’ Bill Evans, along with Bartell Hotel's Richard Bartell, who have traditionally showered the football games with tax-derived largesse.

During the brief reign of Democrat Bob Filner, the board sued the now fallen mayor for control of tax money it allots to groups claiming to boost tourism here. The group's performance in attracting business to the city, outside of their personal financial realms, is still quietly debated in tourist industry circles, though none will speak on the record regarding the triumvirate.

Critics say they fear being shut out of future grants from the district, as well as the opprobrium of U-T San Diego, owned by GOP mega-millionaire developer Douglas Manchester, who controls the Grand del Mar resort.

Reached by phone regarding the news that the Nebraska charters hadn't materialized, Bruce Binkowski, executive director of the San Diego Bowl Game Association, which runs both the Holiday and Poinsettia bowls, said he was not overly troubled.

"Are we happy about it, no. But it doesn't concern me a whole heck of a lot," Binkowski said, adding that many Nebraska fans are expected to arrive by plane from elsewhere in the country.

This year's Tourism Marketing District subsidy to both bowls is $450,000, which goes to so-called team payouts.

Backers assert that the “free media coverage” of the city justifies the subsidy.

"The Holiday Bowl is televised nationally on ESPN and annually the game attracts 5 to 6 million viewers," according to the bowl group's application for funding in October of last year.

"The ‘beauty shots’ will again be part of the ESPN telecast in 2014. In addition, the game is broadcast nationally on ESPN radio and the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, a Holiday Bowl production, is televised nationally. The parade takes place either on game day or the day before the Holiday Bowl."

According to the bowl game association's most recent federal disclosure filing, covering the 12-month period from March 2012 through February of last year, the non-profit posted total revenue of $10,248,172, about $2 million of which came in the form of contributions and grants.

Executive director Binkowski received total compensation of $324,329, including a bonus of $40,000 and $26,435 in nontaxable benefits, according to the filing. Assistant executive director Mark Neville got a total of $245,698.

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

Celebrate Holi, Borrego Springs Music Festival

Events March 23-March 27, 2024
Bruce Binkowski
Bruce Binkowski

Local innkeepers and restaurateurs hoping to make a killing on this year's Holiday Bowl battle between the University of Nebraska and the University of Southern California may have to lower their expectations, judging from an account in the Omaha World-Herald.

Not only is USC within easy driving distance, possibly resulting in fewer hotel stays, it turns out that Nebraska fans aren't that excited about plunking down their money for the trip out west.

Noting that "the Huskers played in the Holiday Bowl following the 2009 and 2010 seasons, which might dampen interest in this trip," the paper reported Monday that two big Omaha travel agencies have decided not to charter planes to the game.

“We talked about it but were concerned about the repeat trip to the Holiday Bowl,” Peg Gullikson of Omaha's Travel and Transport told the paper. “And if the alumni association didn’t feel like they would fill a charter plane, we probably couldn’t do it.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

Added the paper, "fans traveling to the bowl could also be hurt by high airfares during the Christmas season. Round-trip tickets from Omaha on Monday started at $755 for a Dec. 26 arrival and a Dec. 29 departure."

A wintery road trip here would be a little cheaper, if more hazardous.

"Fans thinking of a round-trip, 3,190-mile drive from Omaha to San Diego will benefit from falling gas prices," the story noted. "A 2012 Toyota Camry making the trip would use an estimated 127 gallons of gas, costing about $360."

News that the local tourism establishment's prime December sports show may not be all that it’s been cracked up to be, visitor-wise, is seldom, if ever, acknowledged in public here.

The game is subsidized by hotel taxes handed out by the board of the Tourism Marketing District, a group of wealthy Republican hotel moguls, including Atlas Hotel's Terry Brown and Evans Hotels’ Bill Evans, along with Bartell Hotel's Richard Bartell, who have traditionally showered the football games with tax-derived largesse.

During the brief reign of Democrat Bob Filner, the board sued the now fallen mayor for control of tax money it allots to groups claiming to boost tourism here. The group's performance in attracting business to the city, outside of their personal financial realms, is still quietly debated in tourist industry circles, though none will speak on the record regarding the triumvirate.

Critics say they fear being shut out of future grants from the district, as well as the opprobrium of U-T San Diego, owned by GOP mega-millionaire developer Douglas Manchester, who controls the Grand del Mar resort.

Reached by phone regarding the news that the Nebraska charters hadn't materialized, Bruce Binkowski, executive director of the San Diego Bowl Game Association, which runs both the Holiday and Poinsettia bowls, said he was not overly troubled.

"Are we happy about it, no. But it doesn't concern me a whole heck of a lot," Binkowski said, adding that many Nebraska fans are expected to arrive by plane from elsewhere in the country.

This year's Tourism Marketing District subsidy to both bowls is $450,000, which goes to so-called team payouts.

Backers assert that the “free media coverage” of the city justifies the subsidy.

"The Holiday Bowl is televised nationally on ESPN and annually the game attracts 5 to 6 million viewers," according to the bowl group's application for funding in October of last year.

"The ‘beauty shots’ will again be part of the ESPN telecast in 2014. In addition, the game is broadcast nationally on ESPN radio and the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, a Holiday Bowl production, is televised nationally. The parade takes place either on game day or the day before the Holiday Bowl."

According to the bowl game association's most recent federal disclosure filing, covering the 12-month period from March 2012 through February of last year, the non-profit posted total revenue of $10,248,172, about $2 million of which came in the form of contributions and grants.

Executive director Binkowski received total compensation of $324,329, including a bonus of $40,000 and $26,435 in nontaxable benefits, according to the filing. Assistant executive director Mark Neville got a total of $245,698.

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

Gonzo Report: Stinkfoot Orchestra conjures Zappa at Winstons

His music is a blend of technical excellence and not-so-subtle humor
Next Article

Tiny Home Central isn’t solving the San Diego housing crisis

But it does hope to help fill in the gaps
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.