The Michigan Supreme Court voted unanimously yesterday to
let stand two lower court rulings rejecting a lawsuit filed by
the Tiger Stadium Fan Club to prevent the construction of a new
stadium over a quasi-public grant to be used for the facility.
According to Valarie Basheda of the DETROIT NEWS, the order now
"opens the way" for the $240M project to be built just west of
the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit. Freman Hendrix, Chief of
Staff to Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer: "The legal options have
been erased. It's time to move forward." Fan Club spokesperson
Bill Dow said the group's legal battle is "finished," but said
the organization will continue to have a "watchdog role." The
next step for the Tigers is to secure financing on its $145M part
of the deal, which team President John McHale said he expects to
be done within six weeks (DETROIT NEWS, 8/15).
LION TALK: Basheda also notes the Wayne County Commission
is scheduled to take up a resolution today regarding a proposed
ballot question on a new downtown stadium for the Lions. In the
past county officials have expressed their support for asking
voters whether a tax on motel rooms and rental cars should help
finance a football site. Ballot language for the November
election must be approved by August 27 (DETROIT NEWS, 8/15).
