Dean Spanos
{{Short description|American businessman and sports team owner (born 1950)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dean Spanos
| image = Dean Spanos.jpg
| caption = Spanos in 2012
| alt =
| birth_name = Dean Alexander Spanos
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|5|26}}
| birth_place = Stockton, California, U.S.
| nationality =
| alma_mater = University of the Pacific
| occupation = Businessman
| years_active = 1984–present
| known_for = Owner and chairman of the NFL's San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers franchise
| net_worth =
| boards = Management Council Executive Committee
Business Ventures Committee (NFL)
| spouse = Susie Spanos
| children = 2
| parents = Alex Spanos
Faye Papafaklis
}}
Dean Alexander Spanos (born May 26, 1950) is an American businessman who is the owner and chairman of the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of Alex Spanos, who purchased majority interest in the team in 1984.[http://www.gbsan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1279:susie-and-dean-spanos&catid=46:get-to-know&Itemid=99&lang=es Dean and Susie Spanos article Giving Back]. gbsan.com. Retrieved on July 11, 2016.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120306010651/http://www.popwarner.com/scholastics/2005/deanspanos.asp Dean A. Spanos]. PopWarner.com Spanos took over daily operations from his father in 1994, becoming president and CEO, until he passed operations to his own sons in 2015.{{cite web| url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/the-52/sdut-alex-spanos-chargers-nfl-2014may05-story.html| title=Dean Spanos legacy more than Bolts| date=March 5, 2014| work=The San Diego Union-Tribune| access-date=December 10, 2017}} He took over full ownership after his father's death in 2018.{{Cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers|url=https://www.chargers.com/team/front-office-roster/dean-a-spanos|access-date=2020-08-22|website=www.chargers.com|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Spanos was raised in Stockton, California, the son of Alex Spanos and Faye Papafaklis, both of Greek ancestry.{{cite web|url=http://www.finehomesandliving.com/June-2013/Taking-Charge|title=Taking Charge - Dean Spanos|date=June 2013|work=Fine Magazine|access-date=December 10, 2017}}
He attended Lincoln High School where he earned varsity letters in football and golf and received the Lincoln High Hall of Fame Award. He graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1972.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/2017/07/16/chargers-owner-dean-spanos-driven-by-work-ethic|title=Chargers owner Dean Spanos driven by work ethic|date=July 16, 2017|work=Los Angeles Daily News|access-date=December 10, 2017}}
Chargers
Spanos was named team president and chief executive officer of the Chargers by his father in early 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/05/18/san-diego-chargers-owner-dean-spanos-sons-control|title=Chargers owner Dean Spanos cedes day-to-day control of team to sons|date=May 18, 2015| publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=December 10, 2017}} Under Spanos's leadership, the Chargers made it to Super Bowl XXIX the first season and won 113 games between 2004 and 2014, the fourth-most in the league, which included five AFC West championships and four playoff game wins.{{cite web| url=https://www.ellines.com/en/achievements/26315-president-of-the-nfl-team-san-diego-chargers|title=President of the NFL team San Diego Chargers| date=March 5, 2014|publisher=Ellines.com|access-date=December 10, 2017}}
In May 2015, Spanos ceded control of the team to his sons, John and A.G., though he stayed on as chairman to oversee a new stadium process.{{Cite magazine|last=Wire|first=S. I.|title=Chargers owner Dean Spanos cedes day-to-day control of team to sons|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/05/18/san-diego-chargers-owner-dean-spanos-sons-control|access-date=2021-12-10|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=May 18, 2015 |language=en-us}}
After a proposed ballot measure for a hotel tax financed stadium plan in downtown San Diego failed in November 2016 with 43 percent approval, the Chargers weighed their option to return to the Los Angeles market.{{cite web|url=https://www.pelicanhillmagazine.com/stories/a-conversation-with-dean-spanos|title=Charging Ahead| date=August 30, 2017|publisher=Pelican Hill Magazine|access-date=December 10, 2017}}
In January 2017, Spanos exercised the option to relocate the team to Los Angeles.{{cite news | title=Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chargers-announce-decision-to-relocate-to-los-angeles-0ap3000000773179 | publisher=National Football League | date=January 12, 2017 | access-date=January 15, 2017}} The move was met with criticism by San Diego due to not being able to find a stadium solution in the city, with 15 years of failed proposals blocked by city officials and business leaders.{{cite news | author=Fox 5 Digital Team | title=Ryan Seacrest asks Chargers owner Dean Spanos about being a 'villain' | url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/01/17/ryan-seacrest-asks-chargers-owner-dean-spanos-about-being-a-villian/ | publisher=KSWB-TV | date=January 17, 2017}}{{cite news | last=Acee | first=Kevin | title=Dean Spanos could have been a hero, but now he's San Diego's villain | url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-chargers-move-live-dean-spanos-could-have-been-hero-now-1484242256-htmlstory.html | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=January 12, 2017 | access-date=August 27, 2017}}{{cite web| title=History of the 15 year effort by the Chargers to get a new stadium |url=https://www.10news.com/news/a-history-of-the-15-year-effort-by-the-chargers-to-get-a-new-stadium|work=ABC10SanDiego|date=January 16, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2020}}
The team's temporary headquarters was in Costa Mesa under a 10-year lease until a permanent location in the Los Angeles area was acquired. The 2017 through 2019 seasons were played at a soccer stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park (known as StubHub Center until 2019).{{cite web| url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/chargers-moving-to-los-angeles-dean-spanos-1201884056/| title=Chargers Confirm Move To Los Angeles For 2017 NFL Season| date=January 12, 2017| publisher=Deadline Hollywood| access-date=December 10, 2017}}
In 2020, construction was completed on the Chargers' new stadium, SoFi Stadium, which is shared with the Los Angeles Rams. The venue is owned and operated by StadCo LA, LLC., a joint partnership with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and the Los Angeles Chargers.{{cite web| title=StadCo LA |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/07/how-much-will-rams-chargers-season-tickets-cost-in-inglewoods-new-stadium/|work=OrangeCountyRegister|date=March 7, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2020}}
Philanthropy
In 1999, the family launched Chargers Champions through the Community Foundation to support local schools.{{cite web| url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/11/28/spanos-family-chargers-donate-250k-in-grants-to-san-diego-county-schools/| title=Spanos Family, Chargers Donate $250K In Grants To San Diego County Schools| date=November 28, 2012| publisher=CBS Los Angeles}}{{cite web| url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/feb/15/ticker-spanos-clan-saves-its-charity-stockton/#| title=Spanos clan saves its charity for Stockton| date=February 15, 2016| author=Matt Potter| publisher=San Diego Reader}}
In 2011 Spanos held a fundraiser for Rick Perry at a private event at Sacramento.{{cite web| url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2011/nov/23/spanos-fundraiser-for-rick-perry-a-family-affair/| title=Spanos Fundraiser for Rick Perry A Family Affair| author=Matt Potter| date=November 23, 2011| publisher=San Diego Reader}} In 2014, the Spanoses donated $500,000 to the University of California, San Diego for the Alex G. Spanos Athletic Performance Center. The donation brought their total support to UCSD to $1.6 million.{{cite web| url=http://www.ranchandcoast.com/2014/11/09/home-dean-susie-spanos/| title=At Home With Dean & Susie Spanos| date=November 9, 2014| publisher=Ranch and Coast}}{{cite web| url=http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc_san_diego_breaks_ground_on_alex_g._spanos_athletic_performance_center| title=UC San Diego Breaks Ground on Alex G. Spanos Athletic Performance Center| date=June 11, 2015| publisher=UC San Diego News Center}}
He also led the Chargers to partner with the Susan G. Komen Foundation in San Diego in honor of his wife Susie, who is a breast cancer survivor.{{cite web| url=http://www.delmartimes.net/lifestyle/la-1473961998-snap-photo-photo.html| title=San Diego Chargers partner with Susan G. Komen San Diego| publisher=Del Mar Times}} During his tenure with the Chargers, Spanos created The Chargers Champions All-Star Gala to recognize high school students and educators in the San Diego area.{{cite journal| journal=San Diego Magazine| date=September 2004| title=Charger Champions All-Star Gala Marshall Faulk Technology Center}} After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Spanos and the Chargers donated $500,000 to hurricane relief.{{cite web| url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/Chargers-Spanos-Family-Donate-to-Hurricane-Harvey-Relief-Effort-442511893.html| title=Chargers, Spanos Family Donate to Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort| author=Derek Togerson| date=September 2017| publisher=NBC San Diego}}{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/la-sp-chargers-harvey-20170901-story.html| title=Chargers pledge $500,000 to help victims of Tropical Storm Harvey| author=Dan Woike| date=September 1, 2017| work=Los Angeles Times}}
He is currently being sued by his sister. The petition by Dea Spanos Berberian, who serves as co-trustee of the family trust along with her brother, alleges the trust’s debts and expenses exceed $353 million. In addition, according to the filing, the trust doesn’t have a plan to pay more than $22 million it has pledged to charities.
Awards and recognition
In 2016, Spanos was ranked number 21 on the USA Today list of 100 most important people in the NFL.{{cite web| url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chargers-dean-spanos-among-nfls-100-most-important-people/| title=Chargers' Dean Spanos among NFL's 100 most important people| date=June 28, 2016| work=CBS Sports| access-date=December 10, 2017}} He was an honoree at the American Hellenic Council's (AHC) Annual Awards Gala, which recognizes individuals from the Greek-American community.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/157071/american-hellenic-council-honors-la-chargers-owner-dean-spanos/|title=American Hellenic Council Honors LA Chargers Owner Dean Spanos|work=The National Herald|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=June 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616180411/https://www.thenationalherald.com/157071/american-hellenic-council-honors-la-chargers-owner-dean-spanos/|url-status=dead}}
He was appointed to the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/jan/06/under-radar-culture-vulture/|title=Culture vulture|work=San Diego Reader}} Spanos received the 2005 Distinguished American Award from the San Diego Chapter of the National Football Foundation.{{Cite news|title=National Football Foundation to honor three South County individuals|work=The Star-News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/132840114/}} He was also awarded the 2004 Jose A. Cota Award for philanthropy and the Chargers support of law enforcement.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chargers.com/news/2004/10/01/chargers-accept-police-award|title=Chargers accept police award|work=Chargers.com}}
In 2002, Spanos was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 16 years after his father received the award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ranchandcoast.com/2014/11/09/home-dean-susie-spanos/|title=At Home With Dean & Susie Spanos|work=Ranch & Coast|date=November 9, 2014}} He also was inducted into the DeMolay International Alumni Hall of Fame.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080802024648/http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/halloffame_bio.php?hofid=24 Dean A. Spanos profile], demolay.org; accessed September 24, 2016.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.chargers.com/team/front-office-roster/dean-a-spanos Los Angeles Chargers profile]
{{NFL franchise owners}}
{{NFL presidents}}
{{Los Angeles Chargers owner navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spanos, Dean}}
Category:Los Angeles Chargers executives
Category:People from Stockton, California