NYC-WTC_000230563

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

THE NEW York times, Thursday, September 20,2001 New Stadiums Still, some said a delay would not necessarily mean that the stadiums would never be built. Slip Far Down “Will the disaster make things more difficult? Yes,’’ said Salvatore Galatloto. who runs the sports prac­ On the List tice at Lehman Brothers. "But I ab­ solutely think these stadiums have to be built. They’ll be good for the city’s OfPriorities pride. It will be risky for any politi­ cian who brings it up now, but the projects will need someone to take By RICHARD SANDOMIR that risk.” Last week’s terrorist attacks are Financing two new baseball stadi­ expected to delay any planning for ums — and possibly a football sta­ new Yankees and Mets stadiums for dium for the Jets — will be nearly the foreseeable future, according to impossible while 20 million square sports finance experts and current feet of office space need to be built to and furmer government officials. replace what was destroyed when Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani had the twin towers collapsed. been the driving force in seeking “These projects had the same pri­ local aid for the stadiums, but he has orities problems that stadiums al­ not completed a plan to finance the ways face, but never in a city that’s city’s estimated half-share of the es­ just been attacked by terrorists,” timated $1.6 billion in construction said Sam Katz, a sports finance ex­ costs. pert. “You can't say, 'Let’s spend a Charles A. Gargano, chairman of big chunk of money on stadiums.’ ” the Empire State Development Cor­ Mets and Yankees officials would ' poration, would not directly say that not comment. And Sunny Mindel, a the stadium plans would be embar­ spokeswoman for Mr. Giuliani, did goed indefinitely. But he said the not comment. terror attack had pushed the sta­ Even before the World Trade Cen­ dium project to a back burner of ter attacks, the candidates for the development priorities. Democratic and Republican nomina­ “We will focus on the most impor­ tions for mayor were less enthusias­ tant needs,” he said. “It’s not that we tic than Mr. Giuliani about a large want to forget the stadiums, but for public subsidy for the stadiums, es­ the immediate future we’re focused pecially with the city facing a budget on the disaster downtown, because it deficit estimated at $3 billion. can have such a huge impact on our “I never heard anyone but Giuliani economy.” say ft was doable,'' said Edward I. Mr. Gargano's state agency had Koch, the former mayor. “It was been discussing with the teams and dead before, and what happens only with city officials $300 million in puts more nails in Its coffin. It can't highway, subway and parking Im­ be done. There’ll be a need for local provements that would go along with money for more important things new stadiums, but no agreement had than stadiums.” been reached. Mario M. Cuomo, the former gov­ Those who have been critical of the ernor, who was the first to propose plans for new stadiums before the using the Long Island Rail Road stor­ terrorist attacks were even more age yards on the west side of Man­ outspoken now. Fernando Ferrer, hattan for a Yankee ball park, added, the Bronx Borough president who is "The argument to use government one of four major Democratic candi­ money now becomes more difficult dates in next Tuesday’s mayoral pri­ for Mr. Wilpon and Mr. Steinbrenner mary, was blunt. as you get into this kind of calamity.” “1 don’t think stadiums are even in Fred Wilpon is a co-owner of the our vocabulary at this point,” Mr. Mets, and George Steinbrenner is the Ferrer said. “Not when there’s a principal owner of the Yankees. place where thousands of people who Some of the experts said that Mr. work and contribute to the economy Giuliani, or his successor, should is crumbling and needs immediate push tor renovations to Yankee and attention.” Shea Stadiums, or let the projects The Yankees were seeking a new fade into the municipal woodwork. stadium in Macombs Dam Park, on How long the stadium issue remains the north side of Yankee Stadium, unresolved hinges on factors like the and the Mets wanted a new home in city’s future financial condition. the parking lot next to Shea Stadium, "New York will bounce back un­ “I don't know if the new stadiums less we’re mired in a war,” said are doomed, but major delays are Mark S. Rosentraub, dean of the col­ appropriate,” said John Moag, a lege of urban affairs at Cleveland managing director and head of the State University. "The debate may sports practice at Legg Mason Wood be postponed for a year. In that con­ Walker, the Investment bank, in Bal­ text, Wilpon and Steinbrenner will timore, “Certain things, by their na­ talk about new stadiums and we’ll ture, have to go on the back burner,” play the same old game.”

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NYC-WTC_000230563