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1965/03/04IM, TE: PI&.C E: PRESIDING OFFICER: MINUTES ANAHEIM STADIUM COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, March 4, 1965 - 1:30 P. M. Anaheim City Hall, City Council Conference Room Rector L. Coons, Shairman The meeting was called to order by Chairman Coons. ROLL CALL: Pre se nt: AL~.O ..PRESENT Rector L. Coons Charles Currier Dick Glover Paul Hughes Harry Knisely Absent: Thomas Fo Liegler, Stadium Manager Alan Watts, Deouty City Attorney Joe Conner, Anaheim Drag Raceway Jack Boettner, Los Angeles Times Phil Hanf, Anaheim Bulletin None Chairman Coons introduced the recently appointed Stadium and Convention Manager, Mr. Thomas F. Liegler, to the Commissioners and told them that Mr. Liegler was Assistant Business Manager of the Houston Colt 45's for the past three years. During his tenure there he was instrumental in the designing and engineering of the Houston Dome and also assisted in the planning of the Convention Center in Houston. Chairman Coons advised the Commission that Mr. Liegler's capacity is that of a Department Head and all matters pertinent to the Stadium and Convention Center will be channeled through his office to the Commission. Mr. L&egler stated that he is looking forward to the challenge in Anaheim and working with the City Council and Stadium Commission in making the Anaheim Stadium the finest in the country. His office at 2000 State College Boulevard will be temporarily in the trailer there until facilities are available in the Stadium. Anaheim Drag Raceway Proposal Mr. Conner continued with his presentation of the Anaheim Drag Raceway proposal by explaining certain additional gratuities to the area in the event the drag strip is accepted° Among thes~ he said, were several charity races to be run each year for the purpose of building up public relations in regard to automoOzze racing. The five charities to be benefited would be decided by a Board of Directors consisting of local prominent people selected for this sole purpose. Attendance at these major events is expected to fill the parking lot to capacity. Anaheim Stadium Commission ~[inutes March 4, 1965 Anaheim Dra Racewa Pro ~osal (cont) Mr. Conner went on to explain that when drag racing started, it was for the participants and they were charged a fee to race their cars to pay for the necessary insurance. Now it is a spectator sport and it is felt that the pro- posed 1/8 mile track will be more attractive to the spectators than the 1/4 mile track since they will be able to see the whole show from start to finish. He further advised that shortly the majority of the tracks will probably be 1/8 mile tracks because the hazards of greater speeds attained are forcing znsurance companies to require that either the tracks be shortened or the horse- power cut down, the latter of which would be less favorable with participants and spectators. According to Mro Conner, the Valet Parking figures were not included on the proposal since this was an attractive income source added for baseball and football and not proposed for drag racing. He added that by utilizing all the space not occupied by concessions and restroom facilities under the grandstand, every inch of the property could be used for parking for the Stadium, including the drag strip itself which could be used for busses, employee parking, etc. In regard to charging for parking for the drag races, Mr. Conner had explained that in addition to the admission charge, there is a pit pass fee, but initial parking per car is free at all the race tracks such as is proposed. Mr. Coons advised him that such a policy would be unfair to other tenants and Mr. Liegler asked Mr. Conner to what degree he anticipated attendance would change per event. Mr. Conner replied he didn't know since it hadn't been tried, but that when admission charges had been raised at various tracks, it was proven that for the first two or three months the crowds dropped off. He said he would hate to ~tnstigate such a policy, however, since they intend to park the cars and have the spectators admitted through a turnstile, the parking fee could probably be introduced. Mr. Liegler asked if the track intended to operate the parking a~4 concession facilit, ies, to which Mr. Conner explained that because of the age group associated with drag racing, they wouldn't want to be forced to have a concessionaire assigned that would insist on enforcing his contract in respect to the sale of alcoholic beverages. However, he did agree that his organization would be open to negotiation on both concession and parking rights. Mr. Conner informed the Commission that auto racing has b~nma +.he senond ~.~est spectator sport in the United States and that they feel they can organize auto racing in this area and edunate teenagers in the sport, giving them a place to race their cars safely rather than on public streets. In addition, neatness in the attire of the track officials and employees will be emphasized, thereby setting a good example. Cheating of participants is kept to a minimum by rigid penalties imposed by the American Hot Rod Association for infractions of rules. Ir, ~espect to the noise factor, Mr. Conner advised that the services of Redel, Inc. had been employed to take sound tests the previous week in the residential area surrounding the drag strip in Long Beach and the only sound obtained was that of the normal background noises. He said that in contrast to oval track racing, there is no noise in the pits due to warming up since gasoline for the dragsters costs $25 to run 1/~ mile so the cars are pushed to the starting line to conserve fuel. During the race the most cars to be raced at one time would be four, with one to two engines each, for only a few seconds. In Mr. Conner's opinion, noise was no factor due to the natural sound barriers surrounding the proposed track site. Anaheim Stadium Commission Minutes March 4, 1965 Anaheim Drag Racew~a.y_proo~ (cont) In conclusion, Mr. Conner stated that although the money committed for the promotion of the AnaheLm Drag Raceway is available now, he doubted if it would be if they had to wait until the completion of the Stadium to get the track into operation. He advised that ~e City ~f Anaheim could receive a substantial return b~ween now ar~ April, 1,966 by constructi~g the drag strip as soon as possible. Chairman Coons agreed that Mr. Co~er had a good point, however, the complications and problems of insurance, hazards, interference with construction, etc. would have %o be thoroughly studied before such a determination could be made. Mr. Conner ar~uounced that the President of the American Hot Rod Association, an attorney in 'Kansas City, would be present next week to answer any additional q~estions the Commissioners might have and left the meeting at this time. The Commissionconcurred that, the Anaheim Drag Raceway proposal ?~d very good possibili',;ies an~ requested Mr. Liegler to investigate the problems involved in the track's construction and operatlon during the completion of the Stadium. The Commission discussed going to the winter nationals of the Hot ROd Association being held near Bakersfield on Sunday, March 7, 1965. Commissioners Coons, Currier and Knisely said that they would try to attend this event and report bac~ on their observations. GommLssi. oner Currier left, ~he meeting at this time to attend another scheduled meeting. Concession Contract Mr. ALan Watts, Deputy City Attorney advised the Commission that he had received more pressure from the Ministerial Association about the hawking of beer, in the stands. Discussion ensued wherein it was pointed out that beer is vended in the stands at all but one of the major league stadiums. The consensus was that there is sufficient built=in control in the concession contract through the Angels, the Commission, the fans az~ the Concessionaire, whose liquor license would be subject to revocation and who probably would not even open the stands or hawk beer in sections containing large youth groups if notified in advance. Mr. Liegler pointed ou~ that the problem is not the vending in the stands, but rather the after.th of a person drinking too much beer, over which the Concessionaire has no control. Therefore, it was felt that the Concessionaire should not be prohibited by his contract to hawk beer in the stands and the following motion was made by Commissioner Hughes, seconded by Commissioner Knisely, and carried: MOTION The Stadium Commission recommends to the City Council that the concession contract with Automatic Canteen not prevent the hawking of beer in the grandstands. Due to other scheduled meetings, Commissioner Glover a~ Mr. Liegler left the meeting at this time. Anaheim Stadium Commission Minutes March 4, 1965 Concession Contrac~ Mr. Watts announced that he planned to present the amended Concession Agreement to the City Council on Tuesday, March 9, 1965, for approval. Commissioner Hughes made the following motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Knisely and carred: MOTION: The Stadium Commission recommends to the City Council that the amer~ded draft of the A~or~atz~ Canteen Concession Agreement be approved per attached copy. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 P. Mo Respectfully submitted, Betty ~. Wilson, Secretary