USFL '86: The Season That Never Was

Saturday, March 10, 2018

'83 Chronology-Authoritative Decision

Event Date: May 14th, 1983

Event Description: San Diego Stadium Concerns

Source: United Press International

The expansion of the United States Football League to San Diego was tabled by the Stadium Authority Friday so groundskeepers could be polled about what spring football would do to the turf.

The Stadium Authority put off making a recommendation to the San Diego City Council on whether to grant the USFL a lease until May 24.

The fledgling league assured the investors in the planned team they would be awarded a franchise if a lease for San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium could be secured.

The plan was received less than enthusiastically by the authority, which runs the heavily used stadium.

The USFL team was opposed by the San Diego Padres, one of the other spring stadium tenants, who protested that football during the rainy spring months would tear up the natural sod.

The Stadium Authority must decide whether projected revenues the new league would generate are worth the wear and tear on the stadium grass. George Mitrovich, Stadium Authority president, suggested that the investors talk to the groundskeepers in Oakland and Denver about how USFL football and baseball affect grass. 

“At least the Stadium Authority is willing to listen testimony on handling the turf,” said Kenneth Rietz, an investor in the proposed team. “If we can solve the turf problem, we should be in good shape.”

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