The Rockets "agreed Wednesday night to terms of a
downtown basketball arena, essentially clearing the way" for
a November 7 referendum, according to Eric Berger in a
front-page report in the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Several
"hurdles must still be overcome -- the sports authority and
Houston City Council must approve the accord, and prominent
opponents of a 1999 agreement to build an arena must OK the
new deal." But "for the first time, team officials have
expressed confidence that the process will ultimately reach
a public referendum." Rockets COO George Postolos: "From
our vantage point, the business agreement is done. All that
remains is for the [Harris County-Houston Sports Authority]
to secure the support of key community leaders, which they
have assured us they can do." Yesterday, a source said the
team and a member of the Authority agreed on who would
select the architect and oversee the arena's design, and now
a team of architects will include MO-based HOK Sports
Facilities Group. The issue now "moves into the court" of
the Sports Authority (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/13).
