As Houston-Harris County Sports Authority officials
focus on building a football stadium to attract an NFL team,
business exec Robert McNair and the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo "are trying to decide how to share its revenues,"
according to John Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. They
are working on a formula for dividing as much as $10M
annually in naming rights and the advertising revenues a new
stadium could generate. McNair "is pushing for a quick
resolution so he can show stadium financing plans to NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue when the latter comes to Houston
June 29." The authority is scheduled to approve the Astros'
new 32-year lease today, and Authority Finance Committee
Chair Michael Stevens said that completing the Astros' lease
will mean the authority should have about $14.5M annually to
build a football stadium and, should voters approve it, a
basketball arena. McNair is expected to spend about $85M on
a new stadium, and about $35M on the rodeo. The authority
"would pick up the balance" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/17).
