A Dallas Morning News poll shows that "voters are
poised to approve" a $230M arena project, according to
Gillman & Lee of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Of those
surveyed, 54% will vote for the deal, 40% will oppose it and
6% are undecided. The poll, which surveyed 508 Dallas
residents last week, has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%.
Voters will decide Saturday whether to approve higher motel
and car rental taxes for the city's $125M share of the arena
deal. The survey found "virtually identical responses among
men and women and support among all age groups. But there
were significant gaps" among older and younger voters: 70%
of voters 18-35 years old said they support the arena,
compared with 42% of those 55 and older; 55% of those 35-54
years old favor the arena deal (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/10).
PEROT AND HICKS CONTRIBUTE: A report filed Friday
revealed that the pro-arena Yes! for Dallas campaign has
raised more than $1.9M, including more than $1.6M from
owners of the Stars and Mavericks. Mavs Owner Ross Perot
Jr. has donated $815,250 toward the campaign, while the
Stars have contributed $807,250. The anti-arena group
raised $39,557 during the first reporting period and $36,665
in the second (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/10).
GOTV EFFORT: In Dallas, Mavs players staged their first
campaign appearance for the arena at an area mall on
Saturday. At least 400 people attended (STAR-TELEGRAM,
1/11)....NBA Commissioner David Stern is scheduled to hold a
news conference today in support of the new arena from its
proposed site (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/10).
