MANY DETAILS TO WORK OUT FOR HOLIDAY BOWL IN 2020

Executive says game, if played, will be in county to help showcase San Diego

When the college football season began two weeks ago, the SDCCU Holiday Bowl didn't have a kickoff date.

Or participation from one of its contracted partners — the Pac-12.

Or permission to allow fans — who usually number about 50,000 for the game.

Now the Holiday Bowl doesn't have a place to play, either.

San Diego State's announcement this week that the Aztecs will not play again at SDCCU Stadium and that the decaying, 53-year-old stadium will be imploded sooner rather than later, included news that the facility will not host any other events.

The Holiday Bowl has been played at the Mission Valley stadium every year since the game debuted in 1978

with Navy beating BYU.

One thing is clear: while SDSU has moved its home games 111 miles north to Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park, the Holiday Bowl will remain within the county limits.

“When everything got shut down with the virus, we were talking about that we had to be patient, prepared and f lexible,” said Holiday Bowl Executive Director Mark Neville. “Speaking to preparedness, we were playing out all these scenarios on what would happen with our game this year.

“One of the scenarios is not having fans at the game. So, if that’s the case, do we really need to play inside a 66,000-seat stadium?

“We have been looking elsewhere in the community, in that event. Well, now that becomes real.”

The most appropriate remaining facilities in the county would be at USD, Southwestern College or Mesa College (none of which seat more than 7,500 fans).

“If we are going to be able to play our bowl game this year, and do it safely and responsibly, now it will need to be at one of those venues,” said Neville, adding, “The way things are shaping up right now, we’re not going to be able to have fans at the game, anyway, if we play it. So we would focus our energies on showcasing San Diego and providing visibility for the region.”

Neville would not say which venue is the most likely destination for the game, but USD’S Torero Stadium would seem the best fit.

It has hosted several teams — currently the San Diego Loyal soccer team — and events with infrastructure requirements similar to what would be needed for a postseason college bowl game.

USD also provides the most picturesque setting for a TV broadcast.

Overhead camera shots looking west would picture a backdrop that includes Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean and make for a compelling kickoff as the sun sets.

“Our mission statement is to generate tourism and visibility for the San Diego region,” Neville said. “While generating tourism will be difficult, we are still able to provide the visibility in the 31⁄2-hour broadcast of the football game.

“To have it in an attractive area, where there’s beautiful views and we’re able to showcase San Diego the way San Diego should be showcased, that would be important.”

The 43rd annual Holiday Bowl was to match teams from the ACC and Pac-12 for the first time.

Until rumblings this week on the West Coast, it appeared a December game was going to include an ACC team vs. Other.

With the Pac-12 expected to make an announcement at any moment that it will return to a fall football schedule, the Holiday Bowl’s conference matchup could be back on the table.

There still remain several details to work out, of course.

Holiday Bowl officials still have to determine if there will even be a game. There is some flexibility in the decision, but it likely will have to be made in November when expenses begin to ramp up for staging a game.

One of the biggest issues is how to adjust the team payouts, which were to total $6.4 million this year. Without fans, that figure will have to be substantially less.

“There’s a lot of moving parts out there,” Neville said. “If we can put a game on, we’ll put one on. But we’re not going to jeopardize anyone’s safety and well being, nor are we going to put the financial health of the game at risk.”

Once Holiday Bowl officials determine if there will be a game, who they will invite, how much they will pay them and actually play the game, they will be faced with another task — packing up their offices at SDCCU Stadium and finding a new home before the wrecking ball comes.

Neville said they are considering locations downtown, in Mission Valley and Old Town, among others.

Almost as soon as they settle into a new office, Holiday Bowl officials will have to determine where the 2021 game will be played.

Petco Park is the likely destination, although some retrofitting would need to be done since the ballpark could not fit a field as currently configured.

“It’s well documented that we’ve talked to the Padres about that,” Neville said. “That’s where I want to be and feel that’s where the SDCCU Holiday Bowl needs to be.

“For now, we’re working on 2020. We’ve got to get that situated first.”