GAME
A Family Affair
The Spanos family provides new support for student athletes .
By Brandon Yu , ’ 16
The San Diego Chargers are no strangers to Triton turf . Starting in 1976 , when Chargers owner Alex Spanos arranged to hold the football team ’ s annual training camp on campus , a family legacy of support has flourished and continues to this day .
With a lead donation of $ 500,000 from Dean Spanos , Alex ’ s son and Chargers chairman of the board , UC San Diego is constructing the Alex G . Spanos Athletic Performance Center , slated to open this fall . Situated above Triton Track and Field Stadium , the new building will be an expansion and renovation of the Spanos Training Facility , which Alex donated to the university in 1988 .
The building will include a strength and conditioning area , outdoor training and performance plaza , and other features designed to support current student athletes and better equip the university to recruit future Triton competitors .
UC San Diego ’ s entire student body will benefit as well . While most Triton athletic teams currently reserve strength training space and equipment at the shared space of RIMAC , the Alex G . Spanos Athletic Performance Center will free up equipment and provide wider access for the greater student body .
“ This area holds a special place in my heart . I can remember being here as a kid during training camps ,” said John Spanos , president-football operations for the Chargers . “ Our grandfather has been a longstanding supporter of UC San Diego , so to carry on his legacy is special .”
With this donation , the Spanos family has collectively given more than $ 1.6 million to UC San Diego ’ s intercollegiate athletic programs , the most of any family or single donor .
“ We are truly grateful for the Spanos family ’ s generosity ,” said UC San Diego Athletics Director Earl W . Edwards . “ This new center will be a state-ofthe-art training facility that will help ensure that our Triton student athletes reach their full potential .”
Dean Spanos ( left ), San Diego Chargers chairman of the board , with Earl W . Edwards , UC San Diego athletics director .
“ Our grandfather has been a longstanding supporter of UC San Diego , so to carry on this legacy and that tradition is special .”
— John Spanos , president-football operations for the Chargers
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