Art Modell yesterday agreed to contribute $24M to the cost
of building a stadium in Baltimore for his NFL team, according to
the Baltimore SUN. Legislative leaders say the concession will
help win over undecided lawmakers. Browns spokesperson David
Hopcraft said Modell would not be willing to make further
financial contributions. Maryland Stadium Authority Chair John
Moag said he spent three hours with Modell on Monday explaining
that if he didn't make the contribution, "it probably means a
train crash." Speaker Caspar Taylor said without the
contribution, he didn't think Modell could get the 71 votes
needed to pass the stadium measure (Waldron & Smith, Baltimore
SUN, 2/22).
ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO: In Washington, Charles Babington
reports MD legislators believe Redskins Owner Jack Kent Cooke
will agree to a ticket surcharge or some other method of payment
to help finance improvements outside his planned Prince George's
County stadium. This, coupled with Modell's actions, would make
it "virtually certain" MD residents would pay less for the two
stadiums than the $273M agreed to last fall by MD Gov. Parris
Glendenning. Pro-stadium legislative leaders now hope the
concessions will win enough support within the General Assembly
to approve the stadiums in budget votes next month (WASHINGTON
POST, 2/22).
