The Rockets "yielded" yesterday to changes Harris
County Judge Robert Eckels wanted in a "30-plus page," $175M
downtown arena agreement, "but he did not immediately
endorse the deal," according to Eric Berger of the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE. Rockets execs said that "meeting Eckels' demands
was the only way to move forward with the plan" and bring
the measure before Houston voters. Rockets COO George
Postolos: "It was a very tough decision to make. We did it
for the simple reason that we wanted to stay in Houston."
Eckels has concerns over renovations to the new arena, the
prospect of the arrival of an NHL team in the city,
"unforeseen" taxes and a "noncompete clause" that
"essentially precluded" the Harris County-Houston Sports
Authority and the city from "financing or assisting a
competing venue with 5,000 or more seats." Berger adds that
efforts yesterday to reach Eckels, who is on vacation, were
unsuccessful. However, Eckels' aides said that he was
"unlikely to endorse the deal without seeing more
documentation" than the Rockets offered about being
"prepared" to address his concerns. Sports Authority
Finance Committee Chair Ric Campo, on the deal: "Since we
solved his issues, we expect Judge Eckels to endorse the
deal." Campo also said that "there would be no more
renegotiating" the agreement with the team, stating, "My
view is that we're done making changes to the deal. It's
time to bring it before voters" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/16).
