WILL WA GOVERNOR'S NEW PLAN MAKE SEAHAWKS STADIUM A LOCKE?

          WA Governor Gary Locke released a new financing plan
     Friday for a proposed 72,000-seat football stadium on the
     current site of the Kingdome, according to Almond & Schaefer
     in the SEATTLE TIMES.  Locke's proposal calls for potential
     Seahawks Owner Paul Allen to contribute $100M to the $402M
     project.  With over $300M left for public financing, the
     plan includes a 10% statewide wholesale tax on sports-logo
     products and memorabilia, a higher tax rate on King County
     car rentals and taxes on stadium parking and tickets.  Money
     would also be generated from six football-lottery games, a
     tax break on construction costs and a county tax credit for
     the stadium.  Allen's Football Northwest VP Bert Kolde: "We
     think it is a break-through package." The bill also earmarks
     money from naming rights for the stadium, which Allen
     "hopes" to call Microsoft Stadium, for capital maintenance
     or operation (SEATTLE TIMES, 2/22).