The bowl officials say that money was for last year's game, not this year's. Gonzales' office disagrees. Almost no one. And that has always been the bottom line at San Jose State. If Spartan Stadium were full of 30,000 rabid fans for every home game, this week's messes would vanish.
Attendance equals money, which equals clout.
San Jose State owns none. Despite what Benson says, the WAC would never have changed Fresno State's home schedule without approval from Fresno State. The Bulldogs average 40,441 fans per home game. And if Spartan Stadium were filled for SJSU home games, then the Silicon Valley Classic surely would stay there, too. If Mayor Gonzales saw 30,000 potentially angry voters in the seats instead of just 2,500 season-ticket holders, that city subsidy would quickly show up.