House Speaker Frank Chopp may have declared the demise of renovation proposals for Husky Stadium in this legislative session, but odds are it'll come back.
Initial reaction to the proposal in Olympia seems to have included a fair amount of this thinking: "State funding for another Seattle stadium? Hell no!"
Give the University a year to make its case, especially the fact the proposal is based heavily on specialty taxes collected in King County - plus a lot of donor money - and the odds will probably improve. Another year in the process of the Sonics leaving town will probably clarify matters too, especially when compared to the permanency of the UW as a Northwest institution.
Thus, it I wouldn't be surprised to see some version of the Husky stadium proposal pass in 2009.
Maybe they can throw in that we need a new stadium "for the children" just for good measure.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on January 26, 2008 11:29 AMIt's much quicker to get a small group together than it is to debate the issue endlessly in Olympia, and frankly Olympia has so much more important business to conduct. You know, like banning plastic bags, which represent an ifinitely small percentage of total plastic creation and usage in our economy.
Posted by: Jeff B. on January 26, 2008 12:39 PMWhile there is a limit, civic structures like Husky Stadium help improve the livability of a region. Couple that with the fact that we are talking about a public entity whose profits are all kept within the organization and help support student education and I have no problem with the state kicking in.
Posted by: Giffy on January 26, 2008 01:27 PMEnd result? Whatever the original price to renovate the stadium might be, you can triple it.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on January 26, 2008 01:33 PMThat way, during the annual butt-kicking from USC,Oregon,or UCLA, students and alumni can retire once the game is hopeless to the casino for gambling, free drinks and a chance to support the University.
Beats raising taxes.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on January 26, 2008 02:41 PMPractically, it is a matter of priorities of government. Police service is more important than athletics, and the right to property and the benefits of lower sales and property taxes FAR outweight any benefits to subsidizing college athletics.
This is about winning the votes of Husky fans. It is pandering and it is disgusting. Bread and circuses. It will even wind up hurting the poor it was partially pitched as helping because the increased taxation that funded it will reduce employment and wages for the poor. The politicians who support this are either ignorant or evil.
Posted by: Bruce Guthrie on January 26, 2008 03:18 PMJust teasing, Bruce. At least we've found something we can agree on!
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on January 26, 2008 03:50 PMThere will be no public vote. The emergency clause will be invoked.
I predict the classic footage of the clamshelling of the stadium a decade or two ago will be shown on TV to prove the danger associated with old stadiums.
Anyone know how much that little mistake cost? Did the contractor's insurer pay, or did the public?
Posted by: Bart Cannon on January 26, 2008 03:51 PMOtherwise Gregoire's 7% income tax hike with no sales tax elimination, will take a front seat in her continual milking of the citizens.
Posted by: GS on January 26, 2008 08:09 PMWho does building a new stadium burden and who does it benefit?! It burdens everyone, but benefits only UW students/alumni!
From the Daily:
"When your football team wins, it's better for everyone, literally everyone," he said.
Especially other student-athletes.
Washington has around 800 of them, and the vast majority plays neither football nor basketball. The students who rely on revenue from football and basketball because their sports generate none are the foundation of UW athletics, Emmert said.
http://thedaily.washington.edu/2006/11/30/why-the-uw-depends-on-football/
I don't understand why UW can't raise the money themselves?! Are they just lazy or dumb.
They can raise money through increase in Licensing Fees, Ticket Prices, Advertising Fee, Alumni, etc.
Posted by: Nancy B. on January 27, 2008 08:46 AM