The Hawks' arena plan will be revisited today by the
Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority. In Atlanta,
Henry Unger writes, "This time, however, the Hawks are
likely to face a tougher crowd. Authority members appear
ready to scrutinize the $213 million project more closely
than they did the first time, when it was unanimously
approved" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/20)....In Cincinnati,
Geoff Hobson reports that the Bengals' pending stadium lease
"received unanimous consent" from the NFL Finance Committee
Monday, "setting up league approval today or Wednesday"
(CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/20). The ENQUIRER's Goldberg &
Hobson write that "a majority of [Cincinnati's city] council
appears ready" to approve a 2% increase in the city's ticket
admission tax on June 2. Bengals President Mike Brown, on
the increase's effect on lease negotiations with the city:
"It's an unexpected burden, but not a deal breaker"
(CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/20)....The estimated cost of
Cleveland's new football stadium has increased $4.2M to "at
least" $247M. The new estimate takes into account higher
construction costs, lawyers fees and contingency fees
(AP/AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 5/20).
