March 28, 2007
Weekday update: New SF stadium push, and other stories
I'm about to hop on a train to D.C. to testify along with all these people (scroll down), but first, the news in very brief:
- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has proposed a plan for a new 49ers stadium in the Hunters Point section of the city, one that he claims can be pulled off without public money - though the city would still have to provide free land. Team officials said they're still concerned about environmental cleanup and traffic issues; the city replied that, uh, they're working on it.
- The NFL approved lifting the debt ceiling for the New York Jets and Giants to borrow $1.3 billion for their proposed $1.6 billion stadium in New Jersey, ending worries that it might be an obstacle for the stadium plan. Newsday reports that "neither [Giants owner John] Mara nor Jets owner Woody Johnson has said whether they will ask fans to buy personal seat licenses to help offset costs."
- Neither Mara nor Jets owner Woody Johnson has said whether they will ask fans to buy personal seat licenses to help offset costs. Debates in the Florida state legislature over cutting property taxes have put the Orlando Magic's arena proposal, which is linked to renovation of the Citrus Bowl, which would be funded in part by property taxes. (Follow that?) As things stand, says Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas, any action could be delayed until May or even longer if the legislature goes into special session.
- Aberdeen, Maryland officials are trying to find a buyer for Ripken Stadium, home of the minor-league Aberdeen IronBirds; the team is owned by local legend Cal Ripken, Jr., but the stadium was built and is owned by the city, which is losing money hand over fist on it. Ripken himself is considering buying it, but only if he gets tax breaks and a state agency takes on stadium losses, which hardly seems to help.
- I have a guide to the new New York Mets and Yankees stadiums in this week's Village Voice (though online readers miss out on the illustration that goes with it), including news of the design flaw that could create havoc in the Yankees stadium's new bleachers. Happy reading, and see you on Friday.
Posted by Neil deMause
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