A compromise plan to use $90M in state and city money to
help build a new stadium for the Tigers "raises tough political
questions" for both MI Gov. John Engler and Detroit Mayor Dennis
Archer, according to this morning's DETROIT FREE PRESS. The plan
calls for $60M from the state and $30M from the city to pay for
infrastructure costs as part of a $200-250M package. The Tigers
would contribute $115M, with the remainder from private sources.
Republican legislators "may kill" Engler's plan for a gas tax
increase if state money is used for the stadium, while Archer
faces "several tough issues" including where to get $30M in an
"already bare-bones city budget" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/24).
LIONS LEAVING THE DEN? The Lions are "moving closer to
forsaking the Pontiac Silverdome as talks intensify for a new
stadium in downtown Detroit," according to CRAIN'S DETROIT
BUSINESS. Lions Vice Chair William Clay Ford said last week that
the team "cannot wait much longer" for the city of Pontiac to
renegotiate the Silverdome lease. The team is reportedly
gathering information on how other stadiums are financed, what
kinds of arrangements other teams have with municipalities and a
"variety of related issues" (David Barkholz, CRAIN'S DETROIT,
8/27 issue).
