In Cincinnati, Dan Horn writes bids to build the Bengals "a new high-definition scoreboard are in and the cost of the project will likely be close" to the original $10M estimate, with taxpayers covering about $7.5M and the team "paying the rest." Hamilton County (Ohio) officials said that they "are vetting the bids now and expect to pick a winner by the end of the year." Work on the project "will likely begin at the end of this NFL season and finish in time for next season's opener." The county and the Bengals "cut a deal on the scoreboard late last year" as part of a broader, $16M agreement "on stadium improvements and riverfront development" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/18).
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More than 90,000 e-mails have been sent in support
of a new home for DC United |
CAPITAL KICK: DC United Managing General Partner Jason Levien in a special to the WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL wrote as RFK Stadium "deteriorates," residents "have engaged in a spirited debate about the proposal to build a new home" for the team. Levien: "We welcome this debate and are grateful for the strong support we have received from the mayor, members of the D.C. Council and residents across the District. ... Residents from all eight wards have sent more than 90,000 emails communicating their support." The new tax revenue generated from this project "can be used to fund critical District initiatives, including hiring teachers, renovating District schools, putting more police, fire, and emergency medical workers on the streets, and rebuilding aging infrastructure" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/14).
BUCKS' BUCKS: In Milwaukee, Walker & Marley cited a report as showing that "capturing the income tax paid" by NBA players and team employees "could support" about $150M in state obligation bonding. The report, which was requested by State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, is "an attempt to quantify whether capturing such income taxes -- often called a jock tax -- would be enough to support general obligation bonds that could be used to finance and build a new multipurpose arena in downtown Milwaukee." Vos said the report outlines "one viable option that the Legislature could consider" to fund the arena (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/15).
