There’s a good reason for the city of San Diego to root for the Chargers this weekend. There’s an equally good reason to root for the Baltimore Ravens, too.
More than $1.4 million could go into city coffers from hosting home playoff games Sunday and next weekend, Qualcomm Stadium manager Mike McSweeney told the city’s stadium advisory board this morning.
“It would be a terrific payday for us,” McSweeney said.
This scenario would play out if the Chargers beat the New York Jets and the Ravens defeated the Indianapolis Colts. If the Colts win, the Chargers-Jets winner would travel to Indianapolis next weekend.
McSweeney said the city expects to receive around $730,000 in revenue from this weekend’s game, and potentially “upwards of that” next weekend.
The Chargers hosted one playoff game last year, though that was in the less lucrative wild card round.
Overall last year, Qualcomm made $3 million more than the city had budgeted. But the city still lost $9 million operating the stadium, according to data provided by the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst.
— LIAM DILLON