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His glasses were stolen.

Earlier in the day, one stadium worker was taken to the hospital for X-rays after he dropped a keg of beer on his foot.

Despite these incidents, police were pleased with the deportment of the crowd and the management of the concert.

"My officers reported that the concert has come off quite well," said San Diego Police Chief William Kolender, who visited the police command post just before The Who came on stage.

Huge Stage, Lights

These relatively minor incidents did not spoil what one stage announcer said would be "the best show you ever saw in your life."

The Who performed, following earlier acts by John Cougar and Loverboy, on a stage as wide as the stadium's football field and illuminated by a huge set of lights spelling out the band's name.

A large video screen was set atop the stage for The Who's performance, giving fans in the far reaches of the stadium close-up views.

There was the usual crush forward to the stage as The Who's segment began, and one man, whose condition is unknown, was trampled and had to be taken to a first-aid station.

Security officials said last night's rain held the crowd of overnight campers in the parking lot to about 250 vehicles.

"We had no problems whatsoever last night," said Assistant City Manager John Lockwood, who was at the stadium before the doors opened Wednesday.

The line to get into the stadium began forming about 7 a.m., but fans were orderly even after security officials opened the stadium door 10 minutes late at 1:40 p.m.

Forbidden Acts

Persons entering the stadium were greeted by a tape recording of Who music interspersed with soothing reminders that alcohol, cans, bottles, drugs, weapons, chairs, cameras, tripods and large coolers would not be permitted inside.

Security guards gave only a cursory frisk to persons entering the stadium.

"It's not nearly as tight (the frisking) as it was for the Rolling Stones," said Sal Quartuccio, who also was a bouncer at that concert.

"Last year we filled up seven bins full of dope and liquor, and this year we're getting bottles but absolutely no drugs.

"You don't see fighting or people passing out, though, so I guess everything is cool," Quartuccio said.

Inside, Beatles music was played for the early arrivals.

Hard-core Who fans rushed to the stage, planted themselves on the lawn and prepared to wait six hours for the band to take the stage.

Many of them had waited overnight in the parking lot but some, like Rhys Bender and Mark Pasko, both 18, arrived just before the gates opened.

"We gave them 10 bucks and they let us in the front of the line," Bender said. "The guys (fans in the line) we bribed had been here since yesterday at about 12 o'clock."

Another dedicated fan was Mark Buttaccio, 22, who arrived from Los Angeles Wednesday morning in time to get a seat on the grass in the front of the stage. Last weekend, he traveled to Oakland to see The Who perform. And on Friday, he again plans to see them play in Los Angeles.

Relaxed, No Rush

Thirty minutes after the gates opened, the lines to the stadium were gone, and the crowd arrived in a steady trickle for the rest of the afternoon.

"The crowd has been amazingly well-behaved," said Neil Forsman of Triple L Security. "They seem quite relaxed — no rush to get in and to the best spots, like you usually see. Frankly, we had expected a tougher time," he said.

Unlike last year's Rolling Stones Concert, vendors sold only one beer per customer and everyone buying alcohol — even those well past their 30th birthday — was asked for identification.

"That's just one of the things that has made this the easiest concert I've ever worked," said Stephanie Burston, a beer dispenser. "We haven't had many underage kids trying to get beer, and nobody who has been carded has given us a hard time. The crows seems really great."

One early arrival who was happy to miss a crush at the gate was Janice Jacobsen, 19, of San Diego, who braved the crowd despite a broken leg.

"How could I miss this," she retorted incredulously when asked if she considered skipping the concert because of her injury. "I mean, this is it — we'll never seem them again, and I've loved The Who for eight years. That's longer than any other band.

"Maybe it'll be tough getting out, but I'll worry about that when the time comes," she said.

Katy Fredericks of Newport Beach brought her two children, Sandra, 11, and Brian, 9.

"Sure they're missing school," she said as she spread out a blanket to mark her family's territory close to the stage. "But they'll learn more about where they came from on a day like this than they would from a week at school.

My Generation

"God, it sounds funny to say this, but it's a great chance to see a band that really made a big impression on their parents' generation."

Fredericks' children seemed a little perplexed by the sociological implications of this farewell tour, but Sandra said The Who's music was "really great," and Brian nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Dave Sanchez of San Diego used the pre-concert hours to reminisce about past Who concerts.

Sanchez, 37, said this would be his fifth Who show. "I suppose it's somewhat sad that it will be my last," he said. "But life moves on — nothing should stay the same forever, not even great rock music."

Teeny Boppers

Many of the early arrivals were high-school and junior high-school students who cut class to get a good spot near the stage.

"I just bought my ticket and came out here," said eighth-grader Ronny Evans, who was sitting on the 50 yard line three hours before the concert started.

But school officials said that, although the absentee rate Wednesday was higher than normal, there were far fewer students missing than on the day of the Rolling Stones concert last year.

"Overall we don't think it's that much of a problem," said San Diego school district spokesman Fred Jeffers.

Part of the reason for the improved attendance, he pointed out, was that school officials asked the stadium and promoters to start the concert at a time when it would not conflict with classes.

Concessions to Schools

"Having a concert in the middle of the day on a school day is not too cool," Jeffers said. "It's great for the city to make money, but why penalize us?" he said. "The school district loses $10 in state aid for each unexcused absence," he said.

This year, the concert starting time was moved back to 5 p.m., allowing students and working people to arrive late in the afternoon and still see the show.

In addition, the concert's promoters sold 27,000 reserved seats rather than selling unreserved seating only.