NOTES : Fullerton Decides Game Is Too Big for It to Handle

Potential parking problems have prompted Ron Andris, Cal State Fullerton sports complex director, to turn away a high school blockbuster featuring Fontana and Rialto Eisenhower, which had been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, at the school’s football stadium.

The game, matching two of the most successful Division I programs in the Southern Section, will probably draw 10,000 spectators. The game is now scheduled Oct. 30 at Fontana.

Servite, which previously signed a five-year agreement to play its home games at Fullerton, will play Huntington Beach on Oct. 30 at the facility. The Titans will play host to Utah State on Oct. 31.

“Parking for our students and faculty is our first priority,” Andris said. “If we schedule a football game on Thursday night that draws 10,000 fans, we’re going to have some major parking problems on campus.”

Approximately 10,000 students attend classes Thursday nights at Cal State Fullerton. Andris said the fans attending the Servite-Mater Dei game last month parked as far away as the UC Center.

The Servite-Mater Dei game drew about 10,000, and Andris estimated that concessions grossed between $11,000 and $12,000.

Jim Patterson, athletic director at Esperanza High, said the reason he didn’t explore the possibility of booking Fullerton’s stadium for the Los Alamitos-Esperanza game Oct. 30 at Valencia High was because of rent and concessions.

“We wouldn’t get a dime of the concession money at Cal State Fullerton, and I figure we’ll make $5,000 to $7,000 at the snack bar at Valencia High that night,” he said. “The rent is about $2,600 at Fullerton. We can accommodate 7,000 at Valencia without paying $2,600 and keep all the concession money.”

Besides Servite’s home games, two other high school football games are scheduled at Fullerton. Mater Dei will play host to Mission Viejo in a South Coast League game Oct. 22, and Troy will play host to Sunny Hills on Nov. 6.