Paul Allen visited Olympia Wednesday "in the hope that
a personal visit would nudge" the WA House to pass Gov. Gary
Locke's stadium bill, according to David Postman of the
SEATTLE TIMES. The bills calls for a statewide referendum
on a financing package for a new Seahawks stadium. But the
proposal was in "deep trouble" in the House after a letter
objecting to a sports-logo merchandise tax that would
finance part of the stadium was signed Wednesday by 53 of 98
House members. The letter says that Allen's Football
Northwest is "jeopardizing consideration of a feasible
funding proposal" if the tax, cut from 5% to 2.5% this week,
is not replaced (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/10).
BRANDING TOGETHER: The TIMES' David Schaefer reported
that opponents of the stadium and the merchandise tax are
"focused on derailing" the bill. Nike has not committed
yet, but backers of anti-stadium group Coalition Against
Unfair Stadium Taxes include the Yakima Bears and Sun Kings;
Seattle Reign and Sonics; retailers Sportmart and Ebbets
Field Flannels; and "not only the major basketball and
hockey leagues," but the CBA and National Ski & Snowboard
Retailers Association. It is "unclear" whether Nike wants
to "enter a battle" against Allen as Nike has individual
contracts with players on the Allen-owned TrailBlazers and
his Rose Garden arena in Portland is the only sports
facility where Nike has its own store (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/9).
