Soccer stadium negotiations creep along
The Chronicle sport section's Bernardo Fallas checks in today on the Dynamo's downtown stadium negotiations:
Through the Dynamo, AEG is in the advanced stages of negotiating a public-private partnership with the city of Houston that would facilitate the construction of a 22,000-capacity, open-air facility just east of downtown and priced between $70 million to $80 million.
The agreement also would include the construction of a satellite public soccer complex and training facility likely to be located on the city's south side.
Both sides have indicated in recent weeks that a decision is expected by year's end, but Mayor Bill White warns there's still plenty of work to do.
"There remains a large number of unresolved issues," White said in a statement e-mailed to the Chronicle on Thursday. "However, both parties are optimistic that we can achieve a mutually satisfactory conclusion."
White would not elaborate on the loose ends, adding that at the present time "we do not plan to provide any answers to specific questions."
AEG and the Dynamo also declined to offer specifics. However, all signs point to the entertainment giant bearing the brunt of the stadium cost, an investment that likely would surpass $60 million.
The city would pony up the rest, although how it would finance its share remains unclear after White said earlier this year property taxes will not enter the equation.
AEG and the city also would partner in a public soccer complex at a proposed site about 7 miles south of the stadium along Texas 288 near Reed Road that would include practice facilities for the team.
"That's also part of our discussions with the city," Dynamo president Oliver Luck said.
[snip]
Besides the city figuring out how to fund its share of the proposed agreement, a key aspect that might be pushing back a decision is the issue of a site for the stadium.
The Dynamo first set sights on land owned by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority just east of Minute Maid Park and U.S. 59, but have since decided against the property, which the Astros lease for stadium parking.
"We know for a fact (the property) is no longer being considered," said Sports Authority head Kenny Friedman, who added that the Sports Authority is not actively involved in the negotiations.
The team might be looking to purchase private land near the same general area as the county-owned property, although Luck declined to confirm or deny it, saying only that a downtown venue is still planned.
It hasn't helped that negotiations have lasted longer than expected.
The Dynamo and the city began formal talks in May and hoped to have a concrete plan of action by mid-July.
"Any stadium discussions take lots of turns and twists," Luck said.
But even a substantial delay will be well worth it if something positive comes out of it, players said.
Manhattan wasn't built in a day, after all!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/26/07 08:03 AM | Print |
Previous Entry | Home | Next Entry
ADVERTISING
DISCLAIMER
All content © 2004-09, blogHOUSTON and the respective authors.
blogHOUSTON.net is powered by Nucleus.
Site design and Nucleus customization are by Kevin Whited.