January 25, 2008
"No support" for UW stadium
Never mind for now about that University of Washington demand for a new state-funded football stadium: House speaker Frank Chopp declared yesterday that there's no support in the state legislature for such a measure, saying, "No House member, and nobody else for that matter in terms of the Legislature, has come to me and asked to support the project. That's sends a pretty strong message. I just said to Governor [Dan] Evans that I'd consider it, so I asked people to consider it. Nobody's come to me ask for support for it."
Even the governor seemingly admitted that the stadium plan was ultimately a waste of money, responding to a question as to whether he feels forced to buy flashy digs for UW to compete with other states for recruits, "We're in nuclear warfare in sports. I don't like it, but how do you get off the train?" Do we have to go over this again?
The big cost driver on this project is lowering the field and taking out the 400 metre track. I have been to Husky Stadium, and that won't be a small undertaking. It's also a "want", not a "need". This is like a homeowner who wants a 60" LCD TV, but needs a new roof.
Besides, what UW isn't telling people is that the proposal to take the track out and put it elsewhere is not universally popular on campus.
Posted by Dennis Prouse on January 25, 2008 03:05 PM