March 2007 | Small Business News
Time Out! Before Replacing
Aloha Stadium, Here Are the Facts
By Russ Saito, Comptroller, State DAGS
To put the discussion about whether to replace or repair and refurbish Aloha Stadium into perspective, it would be helpful to know the facts.
The first and most important fact is that the stadium is safe. The purpose of the repair and refurbishment that is proposed is to keep it safe. At a minimum, it will give the stadium another 20 to 30 years of life. The cost to repair and refurbish the stadium that DAGS provided to the Stadium Authority is the only cost supported by the State’s consultant’s comprehensive analysis. We are not aware of the factual basis for other numbers that have appeared in the news.
A second key fact is that the stadium property was deeded to the State on the condition that it be used for recreational purposes and that it could be transferred only to another local government agency and only if the purpose would continue to be recreational. If not, the property would revert to the Federal government.
A third key fact is that, the $300 million new stadium cost that the State’s consultant has estimated is based on building the new stadium on the adjacent lot right next to the existing one. Building a new stadium elsewhere would cost much more because infrastructure, including access roadways, would need to be constructed. The existing stadium is ideally located for access by all of O’ahu’s highway systems.
A fourth key fact is that a new stadium can’t be built overnight, especially when a site for it hasn’t been selected. Selecting a 100-acre site for the new stadium will take time for feasibility assessments and the environmental impact statement (EIS) process for the short-listed sites. This process could take several years especially after extensive public input and dialogue. Only after this is done and the land is purchased or transferred, can the design and construction proceed. Therefore, it would take an extremely optimistic, perhaps unrealistic minimum of seven years to build a new stadium.
The bottom line is that if a venue for athletic and other events for up to 50,000 attendees is required to host our current sporting events, the Aloha Stadium needs to be repaired and refurbished.
Russ Saito is the Comptroller for the State Department of Accounting and General Services. Reach him via email at mailto:russ.k.saito@hawaii.gov
Mertz, Matsumoto Lose Loved Ones
SBH Board member Andy Mertz and recently retired SBH Director & Treasurer, Peter Matsumoto, both lost loved ones in February. SBH's sympathy to both.
Patsy Matsumoto, wife, mother and former CPA, wife of Peter, passed away.
Dr. James Mertz, father of Andy, and well known Kailua pediatrician for more than 40 years, died at 78 in California.
|
