Sony ArtWalk Organizers Plan New Entertainment Series
The Culligan Holiday Bowl recently paid out $1.96 million to each team in its game in December, according to a representative for the football game. The payout was the Holiday Bowl’s highest ever, the rep said.
The Bowl had originally guaranteed a minimum payout of $1.85 million to each team, the representative said.
In the postseason college game, which took place Dec. 29 at Qualcomm Stadium, the Kansas State Wildcats defeated the Washington Huskies, 24-20.
According to the representative, 57,118 people attended the game. The Holiday Bowl’s staff recently reported the game generated $23.2 million for the local economy.
– – –
A Local Taste: According to the New York City-based Zagat Survey, San Diegans dine out an average of 3.9 times a week. In the survey, which was officially released this month, 600 restaurants were rated by 780 respondents.
Also, Zagat reports that the average bill for a meal in San Diego is $20.63. It’s lower than the national average of $23.51. In other places, the prices range from $33.17 in New York City to $30.12 in San Francisco and $26.28 in Los Angeles.
Ventures From Art: As Sony ArtWalk approaches next month, organizers of the annual arts festival plans to kick off some new programs.
Downtown-based Interface Event Marketing, which took over the program in 1997, is preparing to launch entertainment series FiveW.com and another called Summersets. Announcements are expected soon.
– – –
Convention Contributions: The San Diego Convention Center Corp. recently reported its events in April will generate $57,333,731 to the regional economy. The figure involves the direct spending of an expected 32,960 visitors.
This month, the events will generate $52,552,552, according to the Convention Center Corp.
Some of the larger conventions to come to town include the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, which takes place April 15-18 and is expected to have 20,000 attendees.
Water Tales: Reports say plans for the Poway water park project may be proceeding even though its current owner, Ogden Entertainment, recently sold its theme park division to a Greek company.
New York City-based Ogden signed a definitive agreement with Alfa Alfa Holdings to acquire Ogden’s theme park and water parks division for $148 million. The deal includes Alfa assuming an approximate $80 million in debt.
Reports say the company’s management will focus on the Poway park after they finish negotiations for another theme park site in Florida.
– – –
Crunch Time: The San Diego County Chapter of the California Restaurant Association is preparing for its annual banquet and awards night. Called “Gold Medallion 2000,” 71 nominees are vying for awards in 21 categories, including a new one: “best breakfast.”
For the special achievement award, nominees are: Michael McGeath, owner of La Jolla’s Trattoria Acqua; Ed Moore, owner and chef of Thee Bungalow in Ocean Beach; and Jim Murphy, general manager of the Harbor House in Seaport Village.
Also, the Marine Room’s Bernard Guillas, Kemo Sabe’s Deborah Scott and Mille Fleurs’ Martin Woesle are in the running for “Chef of the Year.”
Checking In: The Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival takes place June 10-11. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend. Concepts Worldwide recently hired a new vice president of sales, Sharon Gallagher. Most recently, Gallagher had been director of custom solutions for Ziff Davis Market Intelligence. San Diego Comic Opera opens its 21st season March 24 with “The Merry Widow.” Approximately 15,000 people are expected to attend the San Diego Union-Tribune’s entertainment festival, called Union-Tribune San Diego A La Carte. It features entrees from some of the city’s top restaurants, a company representative said. Among the local restaurants being represented are Kemo Sabe in Hillcrest, Pacific Del Mar, Humphrey’s in La Jolla and Shelter Island and La Provence in the Gaslamp Quarter. Live music is being presented by locally based Rob Hagey Productions. The Marine Room in La Jolla recently received a Seafood Golden Sceptre Award at the recent annual Southern California Restaurant Writers awards banquet. The World Travel and Tourism Council said more than 2 million jobs in the industry will be created in the United States, reports Travel University International. Good news for the locally based travel school, which has two new two-year degree programs , Hospitality Management and International Trade. University officials expect the trend to double enrollment at the San Diego campus, which is at 63.
