A proposed $1.17B convention center and NFL stadium in
Mesa, AZ, "will not go before voters" in November after a
stadium-district board voted Thursday for an "indefinite
delay," according to Robbie Sherwood of the ARIZONA
REPUBLIC. The "ambitious" project "faced too many
unanswered questions about financing and operating costs"
before next Wednesday's deadline to put the issue on the
ballot. Sherwood: "Supporters say Rio Salado Crossing is
still alive, but its future is bleak unless the state
Legislature tweaks a law to allow for a special election
next spring." NFL Cardinals VP Michael Bidwill said that he
"was disappointed" but looked forward to a possible spring
vote. Mesa Mayor Wayne Brown said he would like to bring
the issue to voters in March. After November, the next
general election is in 2000, and the Cardinals "don't want
to wait that long" before acting on a new facility. Brown
is looking for the state legislature to change the law to
allow for a special election (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/14). With
the state legislature set to adjourn, lawmakers said that
"prospects" for a special session to "boost" the stadium
effort "are at best remote" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/14).
