The Anne Arundel County (MD) Economic Development Corp., a
nonprofit organization, commissioned the consulting firm of
Arthur Andersen to conduct an economic study of the proposed
$160M, 78,600-seat stadium that Jack Kent Cooke would like to
build in Laurel, MD.  The study will examine three main areas:
the money spent in the county and state on the project; the
number of jobs that would be created; and public sector revenues
generated by the project (WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/8)....Under the
headline, "Divided on United," Daryl Van Schouwen writes about
fans reactions to the new United Center under subhead: "Season-
ticket holders giving mixed reviews" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/6).

     The Detroit Lions have long sought a more user friendly
lease at the Pontiac Silverdome.  The team does not receive any
revenues from parking, advertising or concessions -- one of the
few NFL teams with that contract.  The city of Pontiac enjoys the
lease situation, as in 1993 they made approximately $1 million in
profit. Today, THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY examines the Pontiac Silverdome.



  
 
    
STADIUM:
    
Pontiac 
      Silverdome, Pontiac, MI
  
  
 
    
AGE:
    
Completed in 1973.
  
  
 
    
CAPACITY:
    
80,311
  
  
 
    
OWNERSHIP:
    
Owned by 
      the City of Pontiac.
  
  
 
    
MANAGEMENT:
    
Managed by city employees 
      and governed by PontiacStadium

      Building Authority.
  
  
 
    
RENT:
    
$2.66 million.
  
  
 
    
LUXURY

      BOXES:
    
102 — owned and 
      operated by the Stadium Building

      Authority.
  
  
 
    
COST:
    
Total cost was $55.7 
      million, including $15.9M in general

      obligation notes and $25 in revenue bonds.
  
  
 
    
PARKING:
    
12,637 parking spots 
      on site. $7 a car, all revenue goes to the

      Stadium Authority.
  
  
 
    
ADVERTISING:
    
All advertising handled 
      by the Stadium. Lions get no percentage

      of advertising revenue.
  
  
 
    
CONCESSIONS:
    
Elias Brothers Restaurant. 
      Stadium Authority gets 30% of the

      split. Lions do not share in the revenue.
  
  
 
    
LEASE:
    
Lions lease expires 
      in 2004.
  
  
 
    
RENOVATION:
    
Ongoing -- with playing 
      field resurfaced in '93.
  
  
 
    
PUBLIC 
      $:
    
Zero. There is approximately 
      $35 million debt with the stadium.
  

 

(Sources: Joe Tsao, Stadium Building Authority, rent and public
 subsidy from Florida Times-Union article on July 24, 1994.)

     In Dallas, David Jackson and David Dillion examine the
growing trend in NHL & NBA cities to build new arenas.  Martin
Greenberg, Dir of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette:
"Professional sports is in the midst of the largest building boom
ever. ... If you don't have a state-of-the-art facility, you
don't have a team."  Jackson & Dillion note that it is "this
fear" that has inspired Dallas  to pursue a new $170M facility.
Since '88, 14 cities have made various deals for new hockey and
basketball arenas; four more are under construction.  "These
projects have a common denominator:  The desires of team owners
to make more money from the luxury boxes, private clubs and
expanded concession stands that are turning modern sports arenas
into upscale entertainment centers."  The cities involved "face a
common challenge:  How much public money should they gamble on
projects that some economists consider financial risks?"  The
piece focuses on ten new arenas that have already opened or are
being built: Gund (Cleveland), Rose Garden (Portland), New
Seattle Center, The Palace at Auburn Hills (Detroit), Crossroads
Arena (Buffalo), America West (Phoenix), Arrowhead Pond
(Anaheim), San Jose Arena, Kiel Center (St. Louis) and the United
Center (Chicago) (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/6).