NC Sen. Fountain Odom, leader of Mecklenburg County's
(NC) legislative delegation, said yesterday that it's
"unlikely the state will contribute any cash next year" for
a new $224M arena for the Hornets, according to Griffin &
Markoe of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Odom also said that he
"doubts" the NC General Assembly will allow the city of
Charlotte to hold a referendum on using city money for the
project, adding that a request for a referendum "should have
[been] filed" several months ago. Odom: "A lot of folks
don't like the idea of the lateness. The City Council has
been looking at this for a year. And they're coming to us
now?" As for the Hornets possibly seeking around $40M from
the state to cover a shortfall in funding for the arena,
Odom said, "They ain't getting it from the state. With the
needs we have with the schools and the universities ... I
think it would be very hard to justify." But Hornets co-
Owner Ray Wooldridge said that he's "still confident" the
state will want to help the team build an arena because the
project "is going to generate tax revenue." Meanwhile,
Wooldridge said he doesn't "have a position" on a
referendum, saying, "It's not something we control. It's
the city's position to decide." But Economic Development
Committee Chair Lynn Wheeler said that she hopes a
referendum bill can be presented to the full legislature for
a vote, even though that possibility seems "unlikely"
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/16). An editorial in the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER supports a new arena for the Hornets: "Many things
go into making a fine city. One is the ability to offer
attractions that smaller communities can't. ... Part of what
makes a vibrant city is its willingness to support such
attractions" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/16).
