In his first press conference since buying a 14-month option
to purchase the Seahawks from Ken Behring, Micrsoft co-Founder
Paul Allen affirmed he "would never be involved in moving" out of
Seattle and emphasized his desire to have the stadium issue
resolved before he exercises the option. According to Elliott
Almond of the SEATTLE TIMES, Allen will study the team's problems
this season while the Seahawks play in the Kingdome, which has
been deemed substandard by the NFL. Allen says a new stadium is
"a really exciting prospect," adding, "If you want to have a
great team, you have to have a great facility" (SEATTLE TIMES,
4/23).
GET TOGETHER: "Momentum is building" to have construction
of a new Mariners stadium and Kingdome renovations under joint
management, according to the TIMES' Schaefer & Seven. Allen has
not decided where he wants the Seahawks to play after '97, but
public money could be saved if the baseball stadium and a
football-only renovation are coordinated. Several committees and
task forces have recommended the county-owned Kingdome be handed
over to a baseball stadium board, and architects have said that
the two stadiums could share construction costs. In addition, if
the baseball facility is built on the Kingdome's north lot, there
is the potential for mutually beneficial attractions. Jim Kelly,
Acting Dir of the Kingdome: "We have the framework for a sports-
entertainment complex. We will be sorry 10 years from now if we
had the opportunity and didn't do them together" (SEATTLE TIMES,
4/23).
