Dean Spanos | |
|---|---|
 Spanos in 2012 | |
| Born | Dean Alexander Spanos (1950-05-26)May 26, 1950 (age 75) Stockton, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of the Pacific |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for | Owner and chairman of the NFL'sSan Diego /Los Angeles Chargers franchise |
| Board member of | Management Council Executive Committee Business Ventures Committee (NFL) |
| Spouse | Susie Spanos |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Alex Spanos Faye Papafaklis |
Dean Alexander Spanos (born May 26, 1950) is an American businessman who is the owner and chairman of theSan Diego /Los Angeles Chargers of theNational Football League (NFL). He is the son ofAlex Spanos, who purchased majority interest in the team in 1984.[1][2] Spanos took over daily operations from his father in 1994, becoming president and CEO, until he passed operations to his own sons in 2015.[3] He took over full ownership after his father's death in 2018.[4]
Spanos was raised inStockton, California,[5] the son of Alex Spanos and Faye Papafaklis, both of Greek ancestry.[6]
He attendedLincoln High School where he earned varsity letters in football and golf and received the Lincoln High Hall of Fame Award. He graduated from theUniversity of the Pacific in 1972.[7]
Spanos was named team president andchief executive officer of the Chargers by his father in early 1994.[8] Under Spanos's leadership, the Chargers made it toSuper Bowl XXIX the first season and won 113 games between 2004 and 2014, the fourth-most in the league, which included fiveAFC West championships and four playoff game wins.[5]
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.[9]
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.[10]
In January 2017, Spanos exercised the option to relocate the team to Los Angeles.[11] 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.[12][13][14]
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.[10] The 2017 through 2019 seasons were played at a soccer stadium,Dignity Health Sports Park (known as StubHub Center until 2019).[15]
In 2020, construction was completed on the Chargers' new stadium,SoFi Stadium, which is shared with theLos Angeles Rams. The venue is owned and operated by StadCo LA, LLC., a joint partnership withKroenke Sports & Entertainment and the Los Angeles Chargers.[16]
In 1999, the family launched Chargers Champions through the Community Foundation to support local schools.[17][18]
In 2011 Spanos held a fundraiser forRick Perry at a private event at Sacramento.[19] In 2014, the Spanoses donated $500,000 to theUniversity of California, San Diego for the Alex G. Spanos Athletic Performance Center. The donation brought their total support to UCSD to $1.6 million.[20][21]
He also led the Chargers to partner with theSusan G. Komen Foundation in San Diego in honor of his wife Susie, who is a breast cancer survivor.[22] 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.[23] AfterHurricane Harvey in 2017, Spanos and the Chargers donated $500,000 to hurricane relief.[24][25]
In 2016, Spanos was ranked number 21 on theUSA Today list of 100 most important people in the NFL.[26] He was an honoree at the American Hellenic Council's (AHC) Annual Awards Gala, which recognizes individuals from the Greek-American community.[27]
He was appointed to the board of theJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in 2006.[28] Spanos received the 2005 Distinguished American Award from the San Diego Chapter of the National Football Foundation.[29] He was also awarded the 2004 Jose A. Cota Award for philanthropy and the Chargers support of law enforcement.[30]
In 2002, Spanos was awarded theEllis Island Medal of Honor, 16 years after his father received the award.[31] He also was inducted into the DeMolay International Alumni Hall of Fame.[32]
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