Lawmakers "are closer than ever to putting a football
stadium proposal on the ballot," according to David Postman
of the SEATTLE TIMES. The WA House's "growing support" for
the financing plan "is based, at least in part, on
legislators' faith that the numbers will work." Much of the
financing plan has changed in the past two days, as the
"controversial" sports logo tax "has been replaced by a
proposal to extend an existing hotel-motel tax." The public
cost has been reduced by $25M, and Seahawks "would-be team
owner" Paul Allen will pay more money up front in the deal.
The "books balance" because "number-crunchers" on the
legislative staff discovered that stadium costs "were
figured in 2001 dollars -- the year construction will begin
-- while estimates of the money to pay for it were
calculated in 1998 dollars." While "much has been made of
giving the public the final say" on the proposal, the bill
the House may vote on today says that "even after a public
vote lawmakers could raise additional, or different, taxes
to pay off stadium bonds" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/24).
FLYING HIGH: The Seahawks are profiled by Peter King in
this week's SPORTS ILLUSTRATED under the header "Up in the
Air." King touches on Allen's willingness to spend money on
free-agent Chad Brown and two of the first six draft picks.
King: "[I]f legislators don't clear the way for the stadium,
which would be funded mostly by tax dollars, here's what
will happen: Allen will not exercise his option to buy the
Seahawks, will write off the $25 million or so he will have
spent on the team and will walk away. Seattle owner Ken
Behring will look elsewhere for a buyer, and in all
likelihood Cleveland or Los Angeles will pick up an NFL
franchise that will have been richly enhanced by a mere
passerby" (SI, 4/28 issue).
