Paul Allen informed Univ. of WA President Richard
McCormick that he would ask the Kingdome Stadium Task Force
to drop a renovated Husky Stadium from consideration as a
new Seahawks' home, according to Almond & Schaefer in the
SEATTLE TIMES. Metropolitan King County Councilmember Ron
Sims said Allen and Football Northwest "had not expected the
strength of the neighborhood opposition," after campus and
community meetings raised the concerns of traffic, parking,
use of alcohol and access to the university's medical
center, located next to Husky stadium (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/6).
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR: The task force will study
four remaining options for a facility; a renovated Kingdome,
a new downtown stadium and two suburban sites in Kent.
Councilmember Sims said that the Husky Stadium decision,
along with "the apparent agreement that suburban sites won't
work," leaves a renovated Kingdome or a new stadium where
the Kingdome stands as the only solutions for persuading
Allen to exercise his option to buy the team. A new stadium
could be a "problem" for King County officials because the
Kingdome, which is run by the county, has $130M in debt
service (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/6).
LOCKE UP OTHER EVENTS: WA Gov.-elect Gary Locke said he
prefers a renovated Kingdome, according to Callaghan &
Dudley in the Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE. Locke did admit that
renovation of the dome is not an option if Allen doesn't
want to play there: "It doesn't make sense to renovate a
building if you don't have a tenant" (NEWS TRIBUNE, 12/8).
WARM UP THE POUND? In Boston, Will McDonough writes
that "insiders" believe Allen is looking for an "exit
strategy" and will not go through with the purchase.
McDonough: "There is a strong feeling in some high places
that if Allen bails on the Seahawks, that is the franchise
that will end up in Cleveland when the new stadium is
finished there" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/8).
