Broward County and Panthers Owner Wayne Huizenga's
"have different priorities" in developing the Panthers' new
Sunrise arena, according to Meg James of the MIAMI HERALD.
Huizenga's Arena Development Co. is "demanding" the project
"stay on a brutally tight construction schedule" in order to
be ready by October '98, and is also "intent on keeping
costs within" the $185M budget. But County commissioners
want Broward workers "and small and minority businesses to
share in the wealth. But they signed a toothless agreement
when it comes to enforcing minority goals" (MIAMI HERALD,
5/18). The HERALD's Aileen Dodd noted that after "much
controversy," including a lawsuit by black contractors who
claimed that they were "shut out of prime jobs," arena
contractors are giving the public a "peek" into the
construction process. Around 20 minority firms have been
"invited" to bid on the $4M parking garage and contractors
have found $65M worth of arena work available for bid. But
the county has said there is $80M worth of projects for
those businesses (MIAMI HERALD, 5/18).