Financial plans for Lions and Tigers downtown side-by-side
stadiums have been officially unveiled by the teams and the City
of Detroit. According to Valarie Basheda of the DETROIT NEWS,
the total $505M deal will include a $240M new Tiger Stadium, a
$245M domed Lions facility and a $20M practice facility and
corporate headquarters for the Lions. Financing will consist of
48% in public funds, including $100M from Wayne County, $85M from
Detroit's Downtown Development Authority (DDA); and $55M in a
quasi-public grant for the Tigers' ballpark only. Other monetary
contributions: $50M in business pledges to help finance the
dome; $70M from Lions Owner William Clay Ford ($50M for the
stadium and $20M for the practice complex); and $145M from Tigers
Owner Mike Ilitch. The Lions would also pay extra money to buy
out their Silverdome lease, which runs until 2004. Team
officials said they will honor the lease if a deal cannot be
struck. Basheda also notes one of the biggest obstacles to the
deal could be the cost of acquiring land within budget (DETROIT
NEWS, 8/21). The Lions practice facility and corporate
headquarters will be located on 20-25 acres of land in Allen Park
(David Shepardson, DETROIT NEWS, 8/21). Both stadiums will be
owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority; the team's
will manage their own facility; both teams are bound to 35 year
leases (Lions).
PONTIAC NOT PLEASED: During a WJR radio interview
yesterday, Oakland County Exec Brooks Patterson "objected
vehemently" to the Lions planned move and vowed that his county
will "fight back" if Detroit "takes more direct shots" at
Oakland's entertainment industry. Patterson: "The Lions were
kind enough ... to give me a call yesterday. I don't have one
goddamned word for the city of Detroit or Wayne County." Pontiac
Mayor Walter Moore criticized the Lions: "It's obvious now, after
all we offered them, that they had no intention of staying in
Pontiac." Silverdome Exec Dir Eric Walker: "It's apparent that
even though we've put everything on the table but the kitchen
sink, it wasn't adequate enough" (Brian Harmon, DETROIT NEWS,
8/21).
LOCAL REACTION: Columnist Doron Levin lists the "most
explosive land mines" ahead for the project: land acquisition;
obtaining the necessary corporate support; convincing Wayne
County voters to approve a 1% hotel and 2% car rental tax; and
the "looming threat" of U.S. Sen. Patrick Moynihan's bill to end
tax-free stadium financing (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/21). The
DETROIT NEWS' Bob Wojnowski writes while "skepticism is
understandable," the cooperation between Ford, Ilitch, local and
state officials signals "something special is dawning" for the
city (DETROIT NEWS, 8/21). Joe Falls of the DETROIT NEWS has no
objection to the deal, but believes it is "nonsense" to say it
will save the city. He challenges Ford and Ilitch to turn over a
portion of stadium concessions over to the city to improve school
systems (DETROIT NEWS, 8/21).
NATIONAL REACTION: A number of national media outlets
commented on the Lions and Tigers side-by-side stadium deal. In
L.A., Donald Nauss writes the proposed project represents the
"most visible evidence that the city's corporate power brokers
are willing again to invest in the city" (L.A. TIMES, 8/21).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Suris & Blumenstein note that, "this
scarred city's mayor [Dennis Archer] can justifiable brag that he
has begun what was once considered impossible -- the Motor City's
revival" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/21). In New York, Keith
Bradsher reports the participation of corporate sponsors and
monetary contributions by both teams "could signal a new
restraint by local governments" after years when other cities
have agreed to pay the majority of costs for new facilities (N.Y.
TIMES, 8/21). In Philadelphia, Michael Sokolove compares
Detroit to Philadelphia, where stadium deals for the Phillies and
Eagles are being discussed. Sokolove adds the "pleas" of the
teams "have somewhat more resonance when [others] are being so
well taken care of" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/21).
