Houston Dynamo Stadium Generates Controversy
By: Marc | August 31st, 2007This is an interesting article on the controversies in building a stadium for the Dynamo in Houston.
The gist of the article is about how much money is being spent by the city to “investigate” and (basically) say no to possible public funds for sporting complexes.
The sports authority spent close to $3 million to operate last year and one in four of those dollars went to pay lawyers, even though the three big projects of the Sports Authority, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and Reliant had long been built.
But there were some tidbits about a Dynamo stadium:
Is the Houston Sports Authority planning to join the city to help the team build a new [stadium] with your money?
“I don’t think there’s any question that’s what they are going to do,” said Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack. “That’s what they are leading up to and I am 100 percent opposed.”
No one is saying yet whether taxpayers will get to vote on a new stadium, but Mayor White says a Dynamo decision could come this year.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t sound much better than the stadium situation in San Jose. Houston already supports other sports and yet when it comes to soccer — where expenses are dramatically cheaper — they decide that they must draw the line. But at least there are more locations available in Houston. San Jose’s so cramped it’s hard to find a place everyone can agree upon.
So, we’ll just watch and wait.
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they better not even think of letting this team go. the dynamo have been thru so much to go somewhere else. besides they have won many new fans.
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Wayne Dolcefino – has a thinly disguised sensational tabloid style attack on getting a professional soccer stadium in Houston. He has had a series of reports on the Houston Sports Authority but I could clearly tell before tonight’s report that he was heading towards and attack on using public funds to build a professional soccer stadium in Houston. It’s poor tabloid style journalism with a clear anti soccer twist. He gets Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack to voice opposition.
Public funds have been pumped into stadiums for gridiron football, baseball and basketball. This is a very cheap shot.
MLS is the top professional soccer organization in the U.S. which supplies players to the U.S. National Team which represents out country in the World’s most popular sport. I consider this to be unAmerican. As one who spent 25 years in service to my country and many of those years overseas – I know the importance of soccer in the World and how important for us to have a strong professional soccer club system in the U.S. to support our U.S. National team in the World’s most popular sport.
It’s time to start writing and calling channel 3 managers, Wayne Dolcefino, Steve Radack, all of the Commissioners, Mayor White, and more.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/index?se…ver&id=3498304
Public Funding of Houston Stadiums:
Reliant Stadium:
In Houston, the $424 million estimated for the stadium project includes $310 million for
Reliant Stadium construction, $88.4 million for land acquisition and parking, and $25.6 million
for financing and other costs. The public contributed $309 million, with $252 million in
Houston/Harris County Sports Authority bonds, backed by revenues from the hotel/motel tax,
car rental tax, and mixed beverage tax. The private contribution totaled $115 million, with
$50 million from PSL sales, and $65 million in taxable bonds backed by the Houston Texans,
Rodeo rent, parking surcharges, ticket surcharges, and sales tax rebates.
InMinute Maid Park:
Cost: $250 million
Public financing: $180 million, or 68 percent, from a 2 percent hotel tax and a 5 percent rental-car tax
Private financing: $52 million, or 20 percent, from Astros owners; $33 million, or 12 percent, from no-interest loan
Lease: 30 years (2000-2029); $7.1 million annuallyToyota Center:
Cost of Construction
$175 million
Stadium Financing
100% publicly financed.Posted from
United States
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