Well, it's a "church" in the same sense that Elders portrayed such for decades in talks in which "sports" were equated to a "religion", and the "arenas/stadiums" were equated to "churches".
Maybe it's a "stretch", but there's HYPOCRISY somewhere in this transaction.
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Minutes of the Council of the City of San Diego for the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, November 4, 1997
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ITEM-110:
SUBJECT: Agreement with the Jehovah's Witnesses for Construction Services at Qualcomm Stadium.(District-6.)
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the following resolution: (R-98-456)
ADOPTED AS RESOLUTION R-289372
Authorizing an agreement with the Jehovah's Witnesses to provide construction services in exchange for the use of Qualcomm Stadium.
CITY MANAGER SUPPORTING INFORMATION:
Since 1984 the Jehovah's Witnesses of San Diego have conducted their conventions at Qualcomm Stadium which are a positive impact to the San Diego economy. Beginning in 1985, the Jehovah's Witnesses performed various construction projects which benefitted the Stadium in exchange for rent credits for their events. The projects included: remodeling offices; construction of offices for the 1988 Super Bowl Task Force; and construction of a game day event room. In addition, the Jehovah's Witnesses have also performed numerous construction projects for the Stadium and extensive cleaning of the facility at no cost to the City. This relationship has worked extremely well for both the City and Jehovah's Witnesses. With the expansion of the Stadium, there is now a need for
providing administrative offices for the Stadium staff. Also, the locker room, lunch room, and offices for the Stadium field crew are in extremely poor condition and are in need of major renovations. These areas are planned to be used by the NFL for the Super Bowl. The Jehovah's Witnesses are willing to take on
both of these projects in exchange for rent credits. It is estimated that the cost of both projects is $383,000. The City
will provide funds, not to exceed $54,000, towards the projects, with the balance of $329,000 given as 44 days of rent credits.
In addition, the Jehovah's Witnesses would continue to perform miscellaneous projects as requested by the City and the usual outstanding job of cleaning the Stadium.
Aud. Cert. 9800475.
FILE LOCATION:
LEAS - Jehovah's Witnesses of San Diego (61 Stadium) LEASFY98-1
COUNCIL ACTION: (Tape location: D418-488.)
MOTION BY VARGAS TO ADOPT. Second by Kehoe. Passed by the following vote: Mathis-yea, Wear-not present, Kehoe-yea, Stevens-yea, Warden-not present, Stallings-yea, McCarty-yea, Vargas-yea, Mayor Golding-yea.