Peninsula Athletic Club Moves Into New Facility, Takes on New Name
The San Diego Chargers are not only making changes in the front office to start the new season, but the team is also making moves on television.
The “Chargers Power Report Show” has moved from its 9 p.m. slot, or whenever Monday Night Football ended, on KGTV Channel 10 to Monday at 5 p.m. on KUSI-TV Channel 51/Cable 9.
The show will air live from 5 to 6 p.m. during the regular season beginning Sept. 10 at a new location as well , Seau’s The Restaurant in Mission Valley.
“The earlier time slot combined with the live happy-hour crowd at Seau’s will attract an entirely new audience, both in person and watching at home,” said Chargers President Dean Spanos.
Former Charger Bill Ray Smith will stay on as host of the show and will be joined by KUSI Sports Director Paul Rudy.
The earlier time slot is expected to make it easier for more Chargers players and coaches to attend the one-hour show.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bill Johnston, the Chargers’ director of public relations, said the team produces the show and only buys time from the station. The particular time they bought for this show will bump KUSI’s No. 1-rated talk show, the “Jerry Springer Show.”
Mike McKinnon, KUSI’s vice president of programming and operations, would not reveal if the station would take a hit replacing Jerry Springer, but said, “It’s only one night a week.”
The length of the deal also was not disclosed, but McKinnon said the agreement is structured so that both parties can mutually extend it past the first year.
“They are looking for a home for a long time, and we are looking for a partner for a long time,” McKinnon said.
Although Johnston said the team doesn’t get a “break” for moving the show to Seau’s , owned by Chargers linebacker Junior Seau , he did say the nature of the show has been expanded because it’s Junior’s place.
“This is a win-win situation for everyone: the fans, the Chargers and the restaurant,” Seau said. “This will definitely add a new dimension to our charged-up Monday Night Football program at Seau’s. The live show will also include a fan participation segment. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
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Pumping Iron:
Being evicted from the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma didn’t end with all bad news for the Peninsula Athletic Club.
The club recently announced it will open a new facility under the banner of Gold’s Gym in the former United Artists theater complex in Glasshouse Square on Sports Arena Boulevard. The lease is for 15 years.
The new facility will feature two indoor swimming pools, a large fitness center, cardiovascular training room, child care and new locker rooms. Massage therapy, spa services and tanning will be included as well.
The Peninsula Athletic Club was one of several NTC tenants that were ordered to vacate during the massive redevelopment of the property.
“We were fortunate,” said Jim Evans, president and general manager. “If this location would not have materialized, we would have been forced out of our immediate market area, which would have meant we would have lost most of our membership base.”
The new site is less than a mile from the old site.
Evans said the club has more than 3,000 members and serves 90 community groups, which account for 40,000 more people.
One thing Evans didn’t mind leaving behind at NTC was the parking situation.
The new facility has an adjoining 510-car parking structure, in addition to a horizontal parking lot around the center.
“Parking will actually be even better than at NTC,” Evans said. “Except for the top level of the ramp, everything is sheltered from the elements, and the lighting provides more security at night.”
The new facility is expected to open on July 1.
Endorsement Deal:
San Diego-based Graphite Design International, a manufacturer of golf club shafts, recently signed an agreement with PGA Tour player Franklin Langham for him to use and endorse the company’s graphite alloy technology shafts.
Langham used the company’s shafts in 2000.
The length and financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
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Also:
The Chargers named Buddy Nix the new director of player personnel. Nix spent the past eight seasons as a scout with the Buffalo Bills. The San Diego International Sports Council recently named San Diego businessman Bob Payne as the recipient of the fourth annual Robert Breitbard Award.
The deadline for the next Sports Biz column is Thursday, June 21. Send related items to dward@sdbj.com or by fax at (858) 571-3628.
