IHL Aeros Owner Chuck Watson "is trying to strike a
deal" for a hockey arena inside the Astrodome, while he
"campaigns against a proposed downtown arena" for the
Rockets, according to John Williams in a front-page feature
in the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Watson has proposed that Harris
County and "private interests" put an arena "inside the
Astrodome shell after the rodeo vacates it for a new stadium
next door." The arena "would be part of a development"
Watson presented Tuesday to county officials, including
museums, a sports hall of fame, a movie theater and a hotel.
Watson would provide a $1M developer's fee "to coordinate
the county, himself and other private interests." The
proposal "doesn't discuss financing." Watson's actions were
"immediately criticized as an attempt to dissuade voters
from voting" for the downtown arena on November 2. Harris
County Commissioner El Franco Lee: "I'm suspect of this.
This comes at a precarious time." Watson "has complained"
that a new downtown arena "will kill his chances of getting"
an NHL franchise because Rockets Owner Les Alexander "would
control the revenues" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/20).
