NY POST

JAVITS MAKEOVER

By ANDY GELLER

November 3, 2003 -- The Javits Center is planning a $1.5 billion expansion that will double the exhibit space and add a grassy rooftop park, a new report says.

The expansion would also add a fifth-floor ballroom overlooking the Hudson River and a 40-story hotel, Crain's New York Business says.

Political, business and community leaders agree that expanding the center is crucial to the Big Apple's economy, the weekly says.

The Javits Center has dropped to 14th in exhibit space nationwide and is too small to accommodate 43 of the largest 200 conventions.

Meanwhile, new centers are going up in Washington and Boston.

But financing the expansion remains a problem, Crain's says.

While the center is controlled by the state, the Pataki administration has always insisted that the city pay a big portion of the cost of the project, and the state and city aren't close to reaching an agreement.

The center now runs from West 34th to 39th streets between 11th and 12th avenues.

Under the expansion, there would be a new building that would run to 42nd Street. The new building would be five stories high, one more than the existing structure.

Exhibit space would nearly double to 1.3 million square feet. Meeting space would increase tenfold, to 300,000 feet.

The hotel would be built at the corner of 42nd Street and 11th Avenue on land owned by developer Larry Silverstein, who holds the World Trade Center lease.

Javits officials say Silverstein is willing to sell.

40-storey hotel?? Any renderings to show so far? ;)

A New York State of Mind for the Jets

The NFL franchise is set to announce a $1 billion Manhattan stadium that the Big Apple hopes will ultimately help land the Olympics

The Jets are flying back to New York. The National Football League team that has been playing across the Hudson River in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for 19 years is expected to announce in the next two months that it will build a $1 billion, retractable-dome stadium on Manhattan's West Side, BusinessWeek has learned. The stadium would be a big boost to New York's bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Under owner Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson (JNJ ) fortune, the Jets will pay for the bulk of the project, with taxpayers footing a still-undetermined bill for infrastructure, including transportation upgrades. The new stadium, which will also serve as a convention center and arena, will be built on a platform to be constructed over Midtown rail yards between Penn Station and the Hudson River on Manhattan's West Side. The NFL would provide some financing through a special loan program for new stadium construction.

SUBWAY DELIVERY. A proposal for a West Side stadium was first trumpeted by former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in the late 1990s, when the New York Yankees were threatening to abandon the Big Apple. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was less enthusiastic at first but, along with Governor George Pataki, he has since embraced the idea, hoping it will help win the Olympic games and even possibly a Super Bowl. The International Olympics Committee will vote on the site for the 2012 games in 2005.

City officials have estimated that such a complex could eventually generate $2 billion a year in new tax revenues. Nearly 70% of those attending Jets games would use public transportation to get to the stadium, according to economic development officials.

Spokespersons for the Jets, Bloomberg, and Pataki declined to comment about an announcement, but sources say Jets President Jay Cross, hired in 2000 to help get a stadium deal done, has made great strides in recent months. Cross helped the National Basketball Assn.'s Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat build new arenas. A Manhattan stadium announcement could come before the end of the NFL season in January, say sources.

ONE RING. The Jets would play their first season in Manhattan in 2009 under the plan. The team's lease at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands complex expires in 2008. The Jets earlier this year opted out of participating in a $300 million renovation of that stadium.

Struggling this year with a 3-6 record, the Jets made the American Football Conference playoffs last year, but have made only one Super Bowl appearance -- a dramatic victory in 1969 -- in their 40-year history. Under owner Johnson, the team now hopes a return to Gotham will change the course of history.

http://www.pbase.com/image/23288633/original.jpg

I heard that it was going to be an extension of the Javits center:
2012 website (http://www.nyc2012.com/home/index.html)

If it's built the new Giants Stadium will stand south of the Javits Center, along 34th Street. There is talk of the Javits Center expanding northward as well as southward.

This will be a wonderful addition and will prove to be a great boost on the city's economy. By the way, what will they do with the old stadium?

don't the Giants use it? as well as the metrostars

Are the Nets going to NYC?

Nobody knows yet. Bids have been submitted from Newark, LI, and Brooklyn..

Originally posted by savethewtc

he has since embraced the idea, hoping it will help win the Olympic games and even possibly a Super Bowl.



The superbowl is a bigger honour than the Olympics:? :rotf:

Originally posted by Philip Cronin

The superbowl is a bigger honour than the Olympics:? :rotf:

The Superbowl is always played in city which has a warm climate during the winter, and there's been a big debate about that. That's why the article said and even the superbowl, since NYC has cold winters.

Originally posted by huaiwei

40-storey hotel?? Any renderings to show so far? ;)

Nope, no renderings so far.

NEWSDAY

Fields: Expand Javits Center Now

By Bryan Virasami
November 16, 2003

Expanding the Jacob Javits Convention Center can't wait, Borough President C. Virgina Fields contended Sunday.

Fields called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. George Pataki to accelerate a $1.5 billion expansion plan that includes a hotel and more convention space on the far West Side.

Fields said the center should become a top priority of the mayor and should be financed with Liberty bonds, which were aimed at helping the city rebuild after Sept. 11, 2001.

"We need to be able to create jobs," Fields said.

A graphic displayed by Fields showed that New York ranked 18th in convention center available space, ahead of only Detroit and San Francisco in the top 20.

She stressed that the Javitz Center loses out on many large conventions because it's not large enough to compete with other cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago or Las Vegas, with their large and up-to-date venues.

Jennifer Falk, a mayoral spokeswoman, said, "The mayor is firmly committed to the expansion of the Javits Center and we're aggressively moving forward with our plans for the far West Side."

Falk said none of the projects included under a proposal to redevelop the far West Side, such as extending the No. 7 train line, are holding up the Javitz expansion plan.

Earlier this year, officials announced some details of the far West Side plan, such as a football stadium, hotel and the extended subway line. Officials are hoping the stadium and other components will help the city win the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Fields spoke during a news conference in front of the center's 11th Avenue entrance along with Queens Assemb. Brian McLaughlin, president of New York City Central Labor Council.

"We want every convention we can possibly get here because that means jobs, jobs, jobs," McLaughlin said. The proposed new design, said Fields, would double exhibit space, and add a fifth-floor ballroom and large hotel near 42nd Street.

She quoted NYC & Company officials' estimates that such an exppansion would bring about $1 billion in visitor spending and $100 million in city/state taxes.

NY Times

November 29, 2003
Jets Stadium in Manhattan Moves Closer, but Issues Remain
By CHARLES V. BAGLI

State and city officials say they are inching toward a tentative agreement with the owners of the New York Jets to split the $1.5 billion cost of building a new football stadium over Manhattan's West Side rail yards.

An announcement could come as soon as January, the officials said. Under the terms of what officials said would be a nonbinding agreement, the Jets would pay up to $800 million for a modern riverfront stadium, which would also serve as an Olympic stadium if the city wins its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The city and the state, in turn, have generally agreed to pay $300 million to $400 million to build a retractable roof, the air-conditioning system and a platform structure over the rail yards on which the stadium would sit.

But lurking beneath the expected announcement are a number of contentious unresolved issues that could delay or even scuttle the stadium project.

There is no agreement on how to pay for the extension of the No. 7 subway line from Times Square to the stadium, which is considered a crucial element of the West Side redevelopment. Nor is there consensus on the size and scope of a related project, the $1.5 billion expansion of the nearby Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, say state and city officials involved in those projects. Proponents of the Javits expansion contend that it is more important than the stadium to the city's economic life.

Finally, the city has yet to release its long-promised financial plan for the transformation of the West Side, including the stadium, an expanded convention center, new zoning for commercial and residential construction and parks and the subway extension, as the cost has climbed to $5 billion from an estimated $2.68 billion. The financial plan would presumably detail how the various projects could be turned into reality without tapping into the state's or city's current revenues, something the city has promised not to do.

"There are a series of questions that have yet to be answered about the financing, phasing and urban design," said Robert D. Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association, a nonprofit research and advocacy group for the metropolitan region. "This is the city's most ambitious and important economic development plan in the last quarter century."

Nevertheless, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg dropped broad hints during his weekly radio program just before Thanksgiving that he hoped the city would soon strike a deal with the Jets, just as Business Week reported that a deal was imminent. But in an interview Friday, Daniel L. Doctoroff, deputy mayor for economic development and the founder of the city's Olympic bid committee, refused to set a date for any announcement.

"Progress is continuing to be made on virtually every front," Mr. Doctoroff said. "But this is an incredibly complicated jigsaw puzzle. We want to make sure that we have all the right pieces in all the right places."

In an effort to cut costs, city and state officials are considering scaling back the expansion of the Javits Center and reducing the number of stations on the subway extension, at least in the first phase. Mr. Doctoroff has said that the city's stadium obligation and the subway extension will be financed under a still unreleased plan using tax revenues from new development in the area over the next 30 years.

But the city has several reasons for wanting to move more rapidly on the stadium. The team owners, who have spent $10 million on lobbyists and designs for a stadium, have demanded that the state and the city issue "a letter of intent, or some kind of moral commitment" for the project before the team spends any more money, according to a team executive. The Jets' lease at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, their current home, expires at the end of 2008 and the team wants a home of its own for the 2009 season. That means construction has to begin soon.

Officials say the Bloomberg administration also wants to convey a sense of momentum for its Olympic bid with an announcement about the stadium, which would be used for Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. The International Olympic Committee will not select a 2012 site until the summer of 2005, but competing cities have to show some progress on their plans before then.

"It's important that decisions about the stadium get made fairly quickly," Mr. Yaro said.

The Jets and city and state officials point to the team's $800 million commitment as the largest single contribution toward stadium construction by any professional sports team. But the cost of the proposed West Side stadium is also double or triple that of the new stadiums built in Seattle, Philadelphia and Chicago, which cost $400 million to $500 million, according to the National Football League.

Many economists contend that stadiums are relatively poor public investments because they do little more than enrich the teams. But city and state officials say that the economic value of the Jets stadium is enhanced by its links to the Javits Center, whose site is between 34th and 39th Streets along 11th Avenue, just north of the rail yards. With a retractable roof, the Jets say the stadium could be used for 150 other events a year, including convention meetings and plenary sessions, concerts and other sporting events.

But there still is a great deal of controversy surrounding the stadium, its connection to Javits and other issues related to the West Side plans.

The city's stadium plan and rezoning proposal for commercial and residential development will face almost inevitable legal challenges by community groups and others who oppose the projects. Jerry Schoenfeld, chairman of the Shubert Organization, which owns half the Broadway theaters, has become increasingly outspoken about what he says are the potentially negative impacts of a stadium on the nearby theater district, Times Square and the surrounding neighborhood.

"This is all fantasy," said John Fisher, a member of the Westside Coalition, an amalgam of 35 community groups, referring to the size and complexity of the city's plans.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has said it favors extending the No. 7 line, which would bring office workers and football fans to the West Side and spark development of the relatively low-slung neighborhood. But the agency says it has no money in its capital budget for the project, whose cost ranges from $1.6 billion to $2.3 billion.

Peter S. Kalikow, chairman of the M.T.A., has also made it clear that his agency wants to be compensated for allowing the Jets to build over its rail yards, on the blocks bounded by 11th and 12th Avenues, between 30th and 34th Streets. But in what could be a stumbling block, Mr. Kalikow wants to be able to sell far more development rights from the yards than the city now envisions in its proposed rezoning of the West Side.

But the most public dispute reveals the fault line between stadium supporters and advocates for the expansion of the Javits Center over the pace and priority of their respective projects. It also illustrates the interlocking relationship between the stadium, the convention center and the subway line.

On Nov. 19, the board of the Javits operating corporation passed a resolution stating that the city's and state's current plans for the Javits center were "unacceptable," because they would result in a long delay.

For nearly a decade, the Javits Center's operating corporation and the hotel industry have sought to double the size of the convention center by expanding north to 42nd Street, which they said would generate an additional $600 million a year in convention, hotel and restaurant business. Robert E. Boyle, chairman of the Javits operating corporation, has expressed doubts about how much the stadium could really be used for conventions, and the agency's Web site does not even mention the plans to the stadium.

"The mayor constantly refers to travel and tourism as being an industry that is ripe for growth," said Jonathan M. Tisch, chief executive of Loews Hotels and chairman of New York City and Company, the city's convention and visitors bureau. An expanded convention center, he said, "would be an enormous catalyst to achieve that goal."

State officials tried to quell the uprising, telling reporters that the resolution adopted by the Javits board was unauthorized. They said that the planning and development of the Javits Center would be handled by the center's development corporation, which is headed by Charles A. Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation.

"We could have several alternatives," Mr. Gargano said. "We're working with the governor and the mayor on a plan that will work."

One problem is that the M.T.A.'s Michael Quill bus depot lies in the path of the Javits expansion, on 11th Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets. The M.T.A., which bought and renovated the depot in the mid-1990's for about $120 million, does not want to give up the garage until a new one is built, probably under the stadium platform.

But it now appears that construction of the new $400 million garage cannot start until 2009. That would delay the Javits expansion until the garage is completed in 2013, which infuriates the hotel industry.

One possibility is that Javits would be expanded only to the Quill garage on 40th Street, until a second phase could start sometime in the future, a move that Javits supporters greet with dismay.

"We need to get this built," Joseph E. Spinnato, president of the Hotel Association of New York City, said of the convention center. "This is a moneymaker for the city and the state. But to be held hostage to any other part of the West Side development is not something that we're particularly happy about."

Originally posted by savethewtc

The Superbowl is always played in city which has a warm climate during the winter, and there's been a big debate about that. That's why the article said and even the superbowl, since NYC has cold winters.

Super Bowl XL in 2006 will be in Detroit, a rather cold town.

Great to see that a team called "New York" will be finally be able to exist in the City.... but the Giants need to get there too, maybe to form a rivalry between 2 boroughs as baseball as done. ANd if I'm not mistaken the Giants are valued more than the Jets are so it is sort of an oxymoron that they aren't the ones moving to the superior central city, even though their stadium is called "Giants stadium".

Crains NY

Mayor promises to more than double Javits

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has committed to more than doubling the size of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center—-representing a larger expansion than even the center itself has requested.

The mayor promised the expansion in his State of the City speech on Thursday, touting it as part of his plan to redevelop the far West Side of Manhattan and make it more “business-friendly.” Until now, the biggest expansion that was discussed would have nearly doubled the center’s space. Some Bloomberg administration officials had discussed reducing the size of the expansion, or doing it in phases.

Political, business and community leaders agree that expanding the Javits Center is crucial to the New York economy. Javits is too small to accommodate 43 of the 200 largest events ranked by Tradeshow Week, an industry publication. While the center is state-controlled, the Pataki administration has always insisted that the city pay for a significant portion of any expansion.

In his speech, the mayor also updated his plan to preserve and create 65,000 units of affordable housing in the city, saying that 10,000 new homes are currently in the development pipeline. In a few weeks, he said, he will launch a multimillion-dollar, public-private partnership that will develop up to 10,000 units of affordable housing on cleaned-up brownfields throughout the city.

Another rendering of the stadium designed by KPF:

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/01/14/arts/olym.1.583.jpg

That is an NFL stadium? :puke: Looks like it would fit the Freedom Tower!

What route would the No 7 line take?

I like it. For a stadium it looks nice. A skyscraper designed like that is a different story....


Looks great IMO! :)

Newsday

Stadium Plan to Be Unveiled

By Glenn Thrush
February 10, 2004

The Bloomberg administration will unveil a plan for financing its massive West Side redevelopment project tomorrow — but the mayor won't be there.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said yesterday that he'll spend the day lobbying Congress for an increased share of federal homeland security funding.

"I'm not going to be able to be at it," Bloomberg said yesterday at a news conference in Staten Island. "I'm going to be in Washington to see how we can ... bring home monies for the people of New York City."

That trip is part of a larger push for federal funds: Bloomberg, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Peter Kalikow will kick off a new drive for increased mass transit funding this morning in lower Manhattan.

On Wednesday, Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff will unveil bankers' options for funding the expansion of the Javits Convention Center, the westward extension of the No. 7 line and leasing of land for a 80,000-seat stadium used by the Jets and Olympic athletes if the city lands the 2012 summer games.

West side community groups have vowed to fight the stadium in the courts, saying it would increase pollution and destroy dozens of residences.

The city and state will have to kick in at least $600 million for infrastructure improvements, but Bloomberg said yesterday that the Jets' offer to pay for stadium construction makes the deal too good to turn down.

"We can rent it out for eight-odd Sundays a year for somebody that's going to pay us $600, $700, $800 million," Bloomberg said. "This would be the best rental anybody has ever done in the history of the world."

On another economic topic, Bloomberg told reporters he would support a boost in the state's $5.15-per-hour minimum wage, providing he could convince New Jersey, which also has a $5.15 wage, to do the same.

"My great concern is that the whole region goes together," he said. "Otherwise people will move jobs out of the city."

Daily News

Jets stadium ready in '07?

By MELISSA GRACE and MICHAEL SAUL

A Jets stadium could be completed in Manhattan as soon as 2007 under an ambitious plan to fast-track major West Side projects, a top aide to Gov. Pataki said yesterday.

Charles Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development Corp., also spoke of doubling exhibition space and increasing meeting room space tenfold at the "inadequate" and "outdated" Javits Convention Center.

"There is a significant void in the West Side and that is the Jacob Javits Convention Center," Gargano said in Brooklyn.

Gargano is spearheading the two-phase project, which also includes a controversial stadium for the Jets, whose Meadowlands lease is up in 2008.

The first phase would expand the convention center north to 40th St. and south to 33rd St.

This phase could cost as much as $2 billion in public funds, including about $600million for the stadium. The Jets will spend $800 million on the stadium.

Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2005, and city officials are hoping the stadium will boost New York's chances of winning its bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Gargano said the stadium is expected to be completed in 2007 - earlier than originally envisioned - and the entire first phase should be finished in 2009.

The second phase would bring the convention center north to 42nd St. and include a premier hotel. This phase will cost about $500 million and wrap up in 2012, Gargano said.

Newsday

$2.2B Javits Plan Unveiled
Expansion linked to stadium

By Errol A. Cockfield Jr.
Staff Writer

February 13, 2004

Charles Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation, Thursday unveiled details for expanding the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and linking it to a planned stadium and convention center for the Jets on Manhattan's West Side.

The proposal would double space at Javits from 745,000 square-feet to 1.53 million square-feet, and add a ballroom, a key attraction for large conferences and meetings. The two projects, side by side, would give the city an enormous corridor for hospitality.

"Let's face it, New York City's convention and meeting facilities have been inadequate for too long," Gargano said, during a luncheon speech in Brooklyn Thursday at the annual meeting of NYC & Company, the city's convention and visitors bureau.the city's convention and visitors bureau.

Gargano said officials would not release a financing plan for the expansion for at least two months, but he projected the cost could reach $2.2 billion.

Officials hope to break ground on the expansion's first phase by Spring 2005, just before the International Olympic Committee will decide whether New York or one of eight other cities would host the 2012 Olympics. The Javits expansion and the proposed Jets stadium are linchpins in the city's Olympic bid.

The center's current footprint stands from 34th to 39th streets, between 11th and 12th avenues. The first phase -- a six year project -- would take it north to 40th Street and south to 33rd Street. The second phase would then extend the convention center north to 42nd Street.

The limitations of the convention center, which opened in 1986, have hurt the city's efforts to draw signature events. Last year, the city lost 63 major events because of the Javits Center's tight size, representing an estimated $1 billion in missed economic activity, according to the convention and visitor's bureau.

Jonathan Tisch, chairman of NYC & Company's board of directors, said the Javits expansion and the new stadium will increase convention space more than tenfold.

"It will allow New York to offer an unparalleled package to attract major events," he said.

His announcement came a day after Daniel Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, released a $2.77 billion plan for a far West Side redevelopment that would feature a stadium and convention center for the Jets football team as its centerpiece.

While the financing for that plan is separate from the Javits expansion, both facilities would be connected. Jets president L. Jay Cross said both will host gatherings depending on an event's size, but attendees will not know the difference.

"It will be seamless," he said. "People will walk back and forth and never be aware they're walking from one building to another."

Originally posted by huaiwei

40-storey hotel?? Any renderings to show so far? ;)

From the Javits website:

An On-Site Hotel

It is our intention to have an entrance to the Javits Center on the corner of 42nd Street and 11th Avenue. Above the Center entrance a hotel will be constructed with a 50-story, 1500 room capacity with a direct connection to the Javits Center pre-function space. The artist rendering below shows the hotel on the far north corner of the expanded Javits Center. We see an on-site hotel of this scale giving the city and the Javits Center an enormous asset and a strong competitive advantage.

http://www.javitscenter.com/IMAGES/slide33.jpg

http://www.javitscenter.com/IMAGES/slide11.jpg

http://www.javitscenter.com/IMAGES/slide15.jpg

http://www.javitscenter.com/IMAGES/slide17.jpg

http://www.javitscenter.com/IMAGES/slide18.jpg

http://www.javitscenter.com/IMAGES/slide19.jpg

NY1

Mayor Reportedly Considers Raising Hotel Tax To Pay For Javits Center Expansion

FEBRUARY 18TH, 2004

The price of a hotel room in the city could be going up to help pay for changes to the Jacob Javits Convention Center, according to published reports.

The New York Post reports Wednesday that Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to increase the city's hotel room tax to pay for expansion of the Javits Center on the west side of Manhattan.

The report says the Hotel Association of New York City will support the plan as long as the tax is temporary and reasonable. The association says a new and improved facility will be an economic boon to the city.

The cost of expanding the Javits Center is estimated to be $1.4 billion.

According to the Post, the tax would likely add $2 to $3 per hotel room per night.

NY Times

Javits Center Expansion Overshadowed by Stadium Debate

March 2, 2004

By CHARLES V. BAGLI

Almost from the day the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center opened in 1986 on the West Side of Manhattan, hotel and tourism executives have lobbied to expand it to attract more conventions and trade shows, and with them the patrons who will book rooms, eat at restaurants and attend Broadway shows.

Eighteen years later, the state and the city are on the verge of announcing a $1.4 billion renovation and addition to the convention center. But that plan is entangled with a proposal to build a $1.4 billion stadium for the Jets between 30th and 34th Streets, on the south side of the center. Both are crucial elements of the city's plans for the West Side and its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

While the stadium has come under fire from elected officials and West Side residents, as well as Broadway theater owners, the expansion of the convention center has generally received positive reviews. The Jets say they have designed a stadium that would also provide 200,000 square feet of exhibition space usable for conventions.

"The goal is to create one unique competitive convention corridor," Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff said, referring to the plans for the center and the stadium. "It'll be able to compete effectively for any major event, trade show or convention held in the United States."

A new 184-page report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, which was commissioned by the Javits Convention Center, indicates that nearly doubling the center's size to 1.34 million square feet would attract half a million more visitors, 18 to 20 new trade shows and conventions, and nearly $700 million in additional business a year. But the report does not mention the stadium, a reflection of political and economic tensions.

Behind the scenes, some Javits executives, hotel executives and trade show producers have questioned how well the stadium would function with the convention center. More broadly, some economists say that the PriceWaterhouse projections may be too optimistic, given that the trade show industry is suffering from an oversupply of space and lower demand.

"The experience in recent years indicates that the expansion of major convention centers doesn't necessarily mean any increase in business," said Heywood Sanders, professor of public administration at the University of Texas in San Antonio. "Convention centers are discounting rates and providing incentives, or literally giving away space for free."

Last month, Charles A. Gargano, chairman of the Javits development corporation, formally announced that the state supported both projects. The cost of the expanded center would be covered by a hotel tax, cash from the city and refinancing of the center's debt.

The PriceWaterhouse report envisions an expansion from 38th Street north to 42nd Street, where there would be a hotel and ballroom, but the first phase would extend only to 40th Street, providing more contiguous exhibition space and 235,00 square feet of meeting space.

In the past, because of its relatively small size and lack of meeting rooms, the center has had difficulty attracting conventions and medical associations, whose attendees spend the most on hotels, restaurants and entertainment. The report shows that annual attendance is down from its peak in 1997, but PriceWaterhouse concluded that the addition would draw trade shows that do not currently come to New York, as well as larger conventions and professional associations. It warned, however, that while many large trade shows and association meetings have a big economic impact, they also bargain hard for discounts.

The center does well despite its size, high labor costs and the city's high hotel rates, the report concludes, because New York is a highly attractive international city in a region with a shortage of exhibition space.

Business leaders like Jonathan M. Tisch, chief executive of Loews Hotels and chairman of the city's convention and visitors bureau, have supported the expansion project because it would put "heads on beds" and draw other tourist business.

Not everyone, however, agrees that the stadium counts as an expansion of the convention space, even though it could be converted into an exhibition hall. Although the stadium has been described by Mr. Doctoroff as "the southern expansion of the Javits," L. Jay Cross, president of the Jets, was more modest.

"We're not saying this is the Javits expansion that they've been waiting for all these many years," Mr. Cross said. "It is a midsize, full-service exhibition hall that will serve as ancillary space for the Javits or stand on its own."

Brandishing letters from two trade show producers, Mr. Cross said there was enough demand from conventions and exhibitions that he could easily book 40 events annually, generating an estimated $38 million in tax revenue. The stadium would be connected to the center by an underground tunnel.

St. Louis is one of only three cities in the country that operate a convention center in conjunction with a stadium. The St. Louis complex, the Americas Center, is connected to a domed stadium by a short hallway. Bruce T. Sommer, its director, said he books 5 to 10 trade shows a year into the stadium, 4 religious conventions and about 5 consumer shows, as well as concerts and other sporting events. "Major trade shows do not like noncontiguous space," Mr. Sommer said. "No matter how you break it up, one piece will be better than another piece."

Among those who are not sold on the Jets stadium as a convention center is George F. Little II, whose company produces 17 shows a year at the Javits center. Mr. Little said a stadium would be no substitute for an expanded convention center, although he might book the stadium for certain events.

Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Auto Dealers Association, said: "The stadium is a good-sized space to work with." But the primary need is to get the Javits expanded as much as possible."

Walter Mankoff, chairman of Community Board 4, whose district covers the West Side, described the stadium as an expensive project that would require $600 million in public subsidies. He said he doubted that it would do much convention business, but argued that it would bring traffic congestion and pollution.

"We do not agree on every detail, but we agree that the convention center needs an expansion and would be extremely helpful to the New York economy," Mr. Mankoff said. "We don't think the stadium is a proper expansion."

But even those who support expanding the center worry that the city is pushing harder for the stadium, which would require state legislation.

The expansion of the convention center is "the single most important public investment that the city and state can make," said Kathryn S. Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City. "If a legislative package is not introduced in the next couple of weeks, we'll lose yet another year in what has been a tortuous, decade-long process."

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/03/01/nyregion/javits.jpg
The Javits Convention Center is represented by light orange, with the proposed Jets stadium, left, and the planned expansion of the center both in darker orange.

Man, this is really impressive. I wish the same could be said for ours in Dallas, but you know, this still won't beat our F exhibit hall, the largest column-free convention space around...I believe the largest in the world!

Ah well. At least yours is awesome.

Crains NY

$600 million for Javits expansion

The city and state are proposing to give at least $300 million each to help fund the expansion of the Javits Center, on top of the $600 million they are already planning to give to the Jets for a new stadium.

Jonathan Tisch, head of Loews Hotels, mentioned the capital contribution for the convention center expansion at a Crain's New York Business forum on Tuesday. Charles Gargano, New York state's economic czar, confirmed later that the state and city are planning to pump between $600 million and $700 million into the center expansion.

In addition, the Hotel Association of New York City's executive committee has recommended to the association board that hotels pay an extra, temporary tax of $1.50 per key per night on occupied rooms as part of the private-sector portion of the Javits expansion financing plan, Mr. Tisch said. The committee has stipulated that the money be earmarked specifically for enlarging the center. Other industries would also be expected to provide a portion of revenue, based on consumer use of the expanded facility, according to Mr. Tisch.

Crains NY

$600 million for Javits expansion

March 16, 2004

The city and state are proposing to give at least $300 million each to help fund the expansion of the Javits Center, on top of the $600 million they are already planning to give to the Jets for a new stadium.

Jonathan Tisch, head of Loews Hotels, mentioned the capital contribution for the convention center expansion at a Crain's New York Business forum on Tuesday. Charles Gargano, New York state's economic czar, confirmed later that the state and city are planning to pump between $600 million and $700 million into the center expansion.

In addition, the Hotel Association of New York City's executive committee has recommended to the association board that hotels pay an extra, temporary tax of $1.50 per key per night on occupied rooms as part of the private-sector portion of the Javits expansion financing plan, Mr. Tisch said. The committee has stipulated that the money be earmarked specifically for enlarging the center. Other industries would also be expected to provide a portion of revenue, based on consumer use of the expanded facility, according to Mr. Tisch.

NY1

Deal For West Side Stadium To Be Announced

NY1

Deal For West Side Stadium To Be Announced

http://www.ny1.com/Content/images/live/59/117620.JPG

MARCH 24TH, 2004

The city and state are closing in on a deal to build a new stadium for the Jets on the far west side of Manhattan.

Sources close to the negotiations tell NY1 an agreement will be announced Thursday, though other hurdles would still remain.

The retractable dome stadium is a key part of the city’s bid for the 2012 Olympics, and it would also be part of an expansion of the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The $2.8 billion development plan for the area also includes new office and residential buildings and an extension of the No. 7 subway line.

For the stadium, the city and state would chip in $600 million to build a deck over the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s rail yards on the waterfront between 30th and 34th Streets. The Jets would pay $800 million to construct the stadium on top.

The Javits expansion is expected to cost another $1.4 billion. The hotel industry – which would benefit by the city’s ability to attract larger conventions – is expected to chip in $500 million through a $1.50 per night surcharge on rooms.

However, many community groups oppose the stadium, worrying that the development will displace residents and increase traffic and pollution. Other critics say the plan wastes taxpayers’ money.

The project still has to clear several hurdles, including an environmental review and zoning approvals. Parts of deal also need the approval of the state Legislature.

From the NY Times...

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/03/24/nyregion/24stad.l.jpg
New York City and state officials say they will unveil plans tomorrow to build the Jets a 75,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof on the far West Side of Manhattan and to nearly double the size of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center next door.

Newsday

Plans for West Side stadium formally announced

The Associated Press

March 25, 2004, 12:46 PM EST

City and state officials announced plans Thursday for a $1.4 billion stadium for the New York Jets that would also anchor New York's bid for the 2012 summer Olympics.

"We will have a home to bring the Jets back from New Jersey, and pro football back to New York City," Gov. George Pataki said in making the proposal official.

Officials also announced plans to nearly double the size of the Jacob K. Javits Center next door.

The Javits Center and the stadium, which is to be called the New York Sports and Convention Center, would together form a "convention corridor" stretching along 11th Avenue from 30th to 40th streets.

The Jets have agreed to spend $800 million on the stadium, but the city and state would have to kick in $600 million for a deck over the existing rail yards and a retractable roof that will allow the facility to be used for concerts and trade shows as well as Jets games.

Despite strong support from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Pataki, the plan faces major hurdles including an environmental review, zoning approvals and likely lawsuits by opponents.

Officials say the Javits Center expansion, which would cost another $1.4 billion, would allow the city to attract larger conventions that now bypass New York for other cities.

The Javits expansion will be partly financed by a $1.50-a-night hotel tax.

The Jets currently share the Meadowlands in New Jersey with the New York Giants. Their lease expires in 2008.

The proposed stadium is part of the city's ambitious redevelopment plan for the far West Side, which also includes extending the No. 7 subway line from Times Square to 11th Avenue and 34th Street.

The new stadium would also be the centerpiece of New York's bid for the 2012 Olympics, serving as the Olympic Stadium for opening and closing ceremonies at the Games, Bloomberg said.

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2004-03/11962589.jpg
The most recent rendition of the planned west side stadium.

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2004-03/11952439.jpg
The railyards (lower right) where a proposed New York Jets football stadium will go are shown on the west side of Manhattan.

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2004-03/11952532.jpg
The railyards where a proposed New York Jets football stadium will go are shown on the west side of Manhattan.

Huge rendering:

http://www.newyorkjets.com/stadium/images/nyscc-hires.jpg

Newsday...

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2004-03/11973973.jpg

From Westside Stadium.com: (westsidestadium.com)

http://www.westsidestadium.com/stadium650a32604b.jpg

http://www.westsidestadium.com/stadium650a32604c.jpg

http://www.westsidestadium.com/content/pictures/stadiumafternoon.jpg

http://www.westsidestadium.com/content/pictures/stadiumair.jpg

NY1

Miller Has Reservations About West Side Stadium
APRIL 22ND, 2004

City Council Speaker Gifford Miller has finally weighed in on the proposed West Side stadium for the Jets, but he hasn’t made up his mind.

The location doesn't bother him, but Miller said he has some concerns about using $300 million in taxpayer money to fund the project. The speaker said he wants to know whether the money could be better spent on other things, like education.

“The thing I want to be satisfied of before I say it's a good or bad public investment is what exactly it is in the context of other public investments,” Miller said Thursday.

Miller said he supports rezoning the Far West Side to allow new high-rises – something the Council would have to approve before construction begins.

NY Times

After City Hall Lobbying, Group Postpones Stadium Vote

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/05/06/nyregion/jets.583.jpg
The site proposed for a 75,000-seat West Side stadium. The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is at lower left.

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: May 6, 2004

The Regional Plan Association put off a vote on whether to oppose a $1.4 billion West Side stadium after the Bloomberg administration began an intensive lobbying campaign to sway the group's vote.

Fearing that the group was about to become the first major civic organization in the city to take a stand against the stadium, Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff, the Olympic bid committee and the New York Jets started a remarkable counteroffensive this week. The 75,000-seat stadium is an important element of the city's bid for the 2012 Summer Games and would also be the home for the football team.

So after some hot debate yesterday afternoon, the association's board voted to wait.

Board members said the group was prepared to begin a blistering critique of the heavily subsidized stadium, which the group's study paper suggested would "deter rather than attract the large-scale redevelopment" that the West Side needs. The board did not recommend an alternative site in Queens near Shea Stadium, as some had expected.

"We had a very intense discussion about the merits of West Side plans," said Robert Yaro, the president of the association. "At the request of the deputy mayor, we are submitting a series of outstanding questions about the stadium and the West Side project. We will defer action until, probably, June."

Officials with the Jets and City Hall were exultant.

The delay illuminated a behind-the-scenes effort by city officials and others to stifle opposition in business and civic circles, at least until after May 18, when the International Olympic Committee meets in Switzerland to pare its list of candidates for the 2012 Olympic Games.

"We didn't want this done on the eve of the Olympic decision," said one person active in the Olympic bid.

But some supporters of the city's Olympic effort favor putting the stadium in Queens because they fear that opposition to a West Side stadium and potential lawsuits from West Side community groups, Broadway theater owners and elected officials could scuttle the bid.

"My concern is that we'll lose the Olympics because some crazies will sue over the stadium," said one board member whose organization has endorsed the West Side plans. "I'd rather face the music now and go to Queens."

But Mr. Doctoroff and others are also anxious to head off any momentum for the Queens site, which they claim is not feasible. The Jets, which have committed to invest $800 million in the stadium, say they are unwilling to consider anything other than Manhattan.

The city's hotel industry, real estate lobby, convention and visitors bureau and the chamber of commerce have all endorsed the city's effort to bring the Olympic Games to New York, to redevelop the West Side and to expand the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

But privately, leading members of each of the groups say they are reluctant to express their misgivings about the stadium, because they are worried about alienating Mr. Doctoroff, the founder of the city's 2012 bid, who also presides over economic development projects in the city.

Jay Kriegal, executive director of the Olympic bid committee, NYC2012, said that he called members of the plan association to alert them that the organization might take a position in contradicting their support for the Olympics. He said that some members had a host of questions, making him think that the group was making a hasty decision.

Both PricewaterhouseCoopers, a consulting firm, and Merrill Lynch, an investment bank, sent letters to the plan association, objecting to a vote against the stadium.

One board member who got a call from Mr. Doctoroff found it a little intimidating, if unconvincing.

"It didn't change my mind," that board member said. "But whenever somebody like that calls, you have to pay attention because there are serious potential consequences. He makes important business decisions for the city."

Richard Ravitch, a board member and a former state economic development executive, said: "If one's major interest is in the Olympics, why pick a site that rightly or wrongly will be the subject of a great deal of litigation and controversy? It's hard to imagine the International Olympic Committee will base their decision on the location of the stadium."

Another rendering of the stadium designed by KPF:

http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/01/14/arts/olym.1.583.jpg

Are those twisty things on the roof windmills for generating electricity?

Are those twisty things on the roof windmills for generating electricity?

I'm not sure if they're windmills or not, but they seem to be there for environemental purposes, as KPF describes on their website:

The innovative design on Manhattan’s westside will incorporate sustainable design technology through use of solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric technology to not only supply energy to the stadium, but also to the surrounding city grid.

Found these...

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/beans/photogallery/images/2004/03/25/4477/8679/Aerial-Looking-North.jpg

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/beans/photogallery/images/2004/03/25/4477/8682/3b.jpg

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/beans/photogallery/images/2004/03/25/4477/8683/4b.jpg

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/beans/photogallery/images/2004/03/25/4477/8685/6b.jpg

The image is of New York City’s Convention Corridor, a historic plan to transform and modernize New York City's convention industry. The Convention Corridor will include the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and the creation of the New York Sports and Convention Center, a new multi-purpose facility that will serve as both a 75,000-seat stadium and a 200,000 square foot exhibit hall - home to the New York Jets, and possibly the 2012 Olympics. The Convention Corridor will generate 42,000 construction jobs and 17,500 new permanent jobs.

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/beans/photogallery/images/2004/03/25/4478/8692/DB7D1799b.jpg

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/beans/photogallery/images/2004/03/25/4478/8693/DB7D1844b.jpg

Newsday

Jets release stadium details

May 18, 2004, 2:13 PM EDT

The New York Jets released details Tuesday of their planned West Side stadium, which would feature wind turbines and solar collector tubes to generate much of its own electricity and hot water.

"We envision this as being the greenest building to date," said William Pedersen of Kohn Pedersen Fox, the New York-based architecture firm designing the project.

In addition to housing the Jets, the $1.4 billion stadium would be integral to the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics, which got a boost Tuesday with the news that New York was chosen one of five finalists to host the games.

Pedersen called the Olympic announcement "tremendously exciting" and said, "We feel we have a stadium that sets the right tone for it."

The stadium would be a rectangle bounded by 11th and 12th avenues and 30th and 33rd streets.

Pedersen said its design, which differs from the typical circular or oval stadium, is meant to fit seamlessly into Manhattan's grid.

"It should feel as if it's very much connected into this particular place, and as opposed to a stadium simply looking as if it could be anywhere, like a UFO landing from space," he said.

The south facade of the stadium would contain 25,000 solar collector tubes and the walls would be topped by 34 wind turbines, each 40 feet tall.

Pedersen said the windmills would generate almost all of the energy for the facility when it is being used as a football stadium and about 25 percent when it is being used as a convention and exhibition hall.

The Jets, whose lease at the Meadowlands in New Jersey expires in 2008, have committed to spending $800 million in private funds on the stadium. The city and state would add $300 million each to build a retractable roof and a deck over the existing rail yards.

The project, officially called the New York Sports and Convention Center, would anchor the city's plan to redevelop a large swath of Manhattan's far West Side.

Backers say the stadium would create 7,000 permanent jobs and 18,000 construction jobs and would be a good deal for the city and state. But community groups and many elected officials oppose using tax dollars for a sports facility when schools and city services are facing a budget crunch.

Renderings how the stadium would look during the Olympics:

http://www.westsidestadium.com/content/pictures/olympicsatnight.jpg

http://www.westsidestadium.com/content/pictures/olympicnights2.jpg

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2004-05/12679280.jpg

Yeah, I read about this on Yahoo news earlier today, and I must say, it's looking amazing. It fits extremely well into the whole look of things on Manhattan, and the idea of those windmills supplying nearly all the power during a Jets game is unbelievable! :D

Newsday
May 26, 2004

Razzle-dazzle on the Hudson

Would Jets stadium revive or ruin the West Side riverfront?

BY JUSTIN DAVIDSON

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2004-05/12680955.jpg
New York Jets unveil new Olympic Stadium model.

Poll: Should the Jets get a new home on the West Side? (http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/ny-etlede3817944may26,0,946444.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-manhattan&vote12681338=1)

Slide Show: New Jets Stadium (http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/ny-jetsstadium-gallery,0,3222146.photogallery?coll=nyc-manheadlines-manhattan)

To build or not to build - or to build somewhere else? That is the way the question of a West Side stadium for the New York Jets has been framed so far. Depending on which form of grandstanding you subscribe to, the colossal structure would glamorize a tawdry neighborhood and catalyze a decade of development, or it would ruin the waterfront, choke the area in traffic and depress it even more. Some NIMBYs hold that if the Jets must cross the state line from New Jersey, and if Olympic logic requires a new arena in New York City, at least the thing should be moved off this crowded isle: Queens can always absorb another toxic structure, so why not stick it there?

Until now, the fights have mostly been waged over the abstract concept of a stadium, not the specific building designed two years ago by Kohn Pedersen Fox and now significantly refined. That structure looks like a $1.4 billion shoebox: a shiny come-on, glamorous, luxurious, but still, in the end, a box. Granted, this is a very New York shape. Here, the city's street grid extends onto the gridiron, turns skyward and continues 300 feet into the air. Squint a little, and the stadium could be the base of an enormous imaginary skyscraper.

But this building will never soar, and it will never be graceful. No matter how clear the glass, how delicate the beams or animated the signs, it will remain a huge, earthbound block. The renderings made to sell the building to clients, politicians and the public show the stadium from above or at a distance, miniaturizing the colossus and setting it in a landscape bathed in a spiritual light. To counteract the digital romanticism of the renderings, we should try to visualize the way the megalith will loom above the waterfront on a gray February afternoon.

Emphasis on design

And yet, this is a building that may actually be more likable the closer you get. The Jets' president, Jay Cross, has made a lot of admirable decisions. Rather than hire a specialized stadium-builder, he turned to a firm full of architects who may have limited experience with football but have a track record of fine design. Second, he supported the ambition to make the stadium environmentally virtuous, equipping it with wind turbines, solar panels and rainwater- collection systems. Third, he understood that for Manhattanites to welcome the Jets, the stadium would have to adorn the city and be stitched to it rather than hunker, isolated and fortresslike, at the borough's bleak edge.

The result is a building that tries hard to be a good neighbor. One side will shelter a flea market, the other will open onto a gracious pedestrian boulevard connecting the city to the water. The building's backyard faces the Hudson River and a bridge of greensward will reach over 12th Avenue to connect with the waterfront strip of park. The south wall will provide an end point for the High Line, the elevated industrial train tracks that will one day be transformed from a relic into a park. In archi-speak, this is called "animating the edges": necklacing the building with ancillary activities to woo people who don't watch football.

Round-the-clock glamour

With facades clad in glossy metal panels and glass curtain- walls bedecked with two-story lettering and digital displays, the stadium will look glamorous even on quiet nights. It aspires to be a destination, not just a facility, a riverfront outpost of Times Square. Gaudy stores will line the sidewalk on 11th Avenue, and expensive restaurants as well will attempt to lure even those without tickets inside the building and up the escalators rolling along its great glass walls. Views to the east will star the Empire State Building; to the west, the Hudson.

If Mayor Michael Bloomberg likes the whole idea, it is partly because he sees the stadium as a salutary example for a design- challenged part of the city. The stadium has been designed to twinkle and gleam, the better to shame the neighborhood's grim, shabby hulks and the Javits Center's sad pile of black glass cubes into making something of themselves someday. The city's master plan for the far West Side rests on the belief that good design will be contagious, and that development will breed more development. The Guggenheim Museum is even contemplating a Frank Gehry extravaganza right across the street. If the architecture is good enough, the theory goes, art and football can live side by side.

Deluxe touches

The stadium's shed-and-truss design is inspired by the infrastructure of the old New York docks: the gantries, cranes and piers that once lined the Hudson here. But despite the blue-collar references, we can count on deluxe details. The metal slats on the facade, for instance, are not flat, but twist up toward the edges, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of colored undercoat - streaks of honeyed gold, lit from inside. The design has a certain imperial grandeur. The 34 great vertical wind-turbines arrayed across the top could be abstractions of the Bernini statues that stand vigil above the colonnade of St. Peter's in the Vatican.

In the international capital of multitasking, even a football stadium has to adapt. When the Jets are at rest or out of town, a retractable roof can slide into place and the synthetic turf can be stowed away to make room for conventioneers spilling over from the Javits Center next door. If New York were to get the 2012 Olympics, which would require more seats and a bigger field inside, the architects have come up with a nifty temporary extension that would lean, wave-like, toward the Hudson and be taken apart once everyone has gone home.

So what's not to like (besides the price tag, the potential traffic and the thought that all those resources might be better spent elsewhere)? Only the prospect that none of these gorgeous attributes will matter, that the far West Side will not bloom on schedule, and that, in the end, the stadium will be a well-dressed giant crouching in a cabbage patch.

Copyright 2004 Newsday, Inc.

New York Times
June 20, 2004

Big Claims and Questions Surround Plan for a Stadium

By CHARLES V. BAGLI

According to the New York Jets, the stadium the team wants to build on the West Side of Manhattan will be an economic whirlwind, attracting 60 football games, soccer matches, concerts, trade shows and conventions a year. An Ernst & Young report commissioned by the team estimates the stadium will generate $72.5 million in annual tax revenue.

But a close reading of the report and an examination of the track records of other combined stadium-exhibition halls suggest that the Jets' projections may be too optimistic. No other similar stadium has attracted anywhere near as many events as the Jets are predicting. The most successful convertible stadium, in St. Louis, drew 32 events last year, only eight of which did not involve sports.

There are also unresolved questions about how the stadium would avoid competing for bookings with the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center next door, and how the team would juggle the demands of trade shows with a National Football League schedule.

Any shortfall in the number of bookings would throw into question the projected number of jobs that would be created and hotel rooms that would be reserved in connection with the stadium, as well as the revenue it would collect. All of those estimates have formed the economic and political rationale for the proposed $600 million investment by the city and the state in the hotly contested $1.4 billion project.

"It'd be the most expensive N.F.L. stadium ever built," said Mark S. Rosentraub, a sports economist and the dean of the College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. "To justify the public investment, you'd have to have a range of economic and intangible benefits that no community has ever been able to realize."

The Jets have said they will invest $800 million in the structure, which would stand as tall as a 30-story building and feature electronic displays embedded in the glass walls, twirling wind turbines that would not only generate power but also glow at night and expensive restaurants on the club level.

Its glass and steel exoskeleton, mimicking the George Washington Bridge, would embrace a football field that could be converted to a 210,000-square-foot exhibition hall.

The Ernst & Young study, which has been adopted by the Bloomberg administration without an independent analysis, identifies the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis as a comparable facility, home to what it says are "40 to 50 expositions/conventions" in 2002. The Dome is clearly the most successful of the three stadium-exhibition halls in the country, but a spokeswoman for the complex, Marie E. Portel, said it held only 34 events in 2002, including 18 sports-related contests and seven consumer shows.

Last year, the Dome held 32 events, including 10 football games, she said. There were only eight nonsporting events, or one-fifth of the 38 trade shows, conventions and consumer shows that the Jets predict they will book into the stadium every year. And most of the nonsporting events in St. Louis - car and boat shows - are what economists call consumer shows, low-impact events that draw people from the surrounding area but do not usually generate hotel and restaurant bookings.

The difference between trade and consumer shows is an important one. Industry analysts estimate that people who go to a car show spend about $75 a day, compared with the $362 a day spent by convention and trade show attendees over three days, according to the Ernst & Young report. Economists use those numbers to estimate the indirect impact of a stadium when attendees use nearby restaurants and hotels, which then hire additional employees.

Officials for the city and the Jets dismiss any comparison to St. Louis, noting that the Javits Convention Center has to turn away hundreds of millions of dollars in business each year because it is too small. (The center has 720,000 square feet of exhibition space; a planned expansion would increase that to 1.1 million square feet.)

"In terms of the ability to attract conventions and events, you simply can't compare New York and St. Louis," said Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff. "We have 10 times the number of hotel rooms and 10 times as many people in the metropolitan area. That's why, even with a too-small Javits, we attract seven times as many events and conventions."

The Jets report contends that the team will be able to book 17 "stadium events," including the team's 10 football games, as well as 38 trade shows or conventions and only two consumer shows, in contrast with St. Louis.

"We cite St. Louis to prove the point that these kind of facilities work," said Thad Sheely, the Jets' vice president for development. "New York is significantly underserved with exhibition space. You only need to look at the Javits, the show piers and the Park Avenue Armory to understand that New York needs this kind of space."

According to the Ernst & Young report, the stadium would generate more than $72 million in annual tax revenues, a great deal more than the estimated $42 million a year it would cost the city and the state to pay for $600 million in bonds.

To back up their claims, the Jets brandish letters from top trade show producers like Reed Exhibitions, stating that there are 15 to 20 shows that it cannot bring to New York because of a lack of adequate exhibit space. Earlier this month, the team also announced that it had created and booked the Big Apple Bowl, a college championship for the Big East Conference that would be played at the stadium if it is built.

Critics do not doubt that the Jets would be able to attract trade shows or consumer shows to the stadium, but they do question whether the team would be able to generate as much business as it claims. The convention business has been plagued in recent years by a nationwide abundance of exhibition space, a decline in demand and fierce competition among cities.

And the rather dismal performance of the newly built $850 million Boston Convention and Exhibition Center illustrates the gap that can emerge between projections and reality. A 1997 feasibility study estimated that the Boston center would book 34 large-scale events in its first full year of operation. But with the complex scheduled to open next month, it has only 43 confirmed bookings through 2010.

"The question is, How much will it cost and what is the price for getting what will likely be a modest increment in activity?" asked Heywood T. Sanders, a professor of public administration at the University of Texas and a leading researcher on the economics of convention centers. "In the current environment, where convention centers are discounting rates, providing incentives or literally giving space away for free, expressing an interest in coming and actually turning up are two very different things."

One leading trade show producer in New York - who takes a more optimistic view of the city's convention business - said he favored the planned $1.4 billion expansion of the Javits convention center. But he expected that he would book no more than three shows a year into the Jets complex.

"Nobody thinks the Jets stadium makes sense as a convention hall," he said. "It is true we need more exhibition space, I just don't know how well it's going to work. We'd be far better off with an expanded Javits."

The producer requested anonymity because he did not want to offend the Bloomberg administration. "It was explained to me," he said, "if you want the Javits expansion, you have to get on board. It's a loser for me to make noise."

The producer as well as many critics wonder whether the Jets will cooperate or compete with the Javits. Mr. Sheely, the Jets' vice president for development, said the "untapped market is really in conventions and trade shows, because the Javits has locked up the consumer market."

But the Javits has been moving away from consumer shows and increasing the number of trade shows and conventions. Javits executives and members of the hotel industry have said that the center would be better able to attract conventions after expanding both its exhibit space and the number of meeting rooms.

Jets officials are meeting with Javits center representatives to discuss management issues, but it is also clear that the Jets space will be more expensive, given the costs of converting from a football configuration and the expense of air-conditioning a stadium.

Paul Sajovec, senior vice president of HVS, a convention and sports consulting firm, conducted a study of St. Louis, Atlanta and Indianapolis - the three places where there are stadium-convention centers - for Madison Square Garden. The garden vigorously opposes the Jets stadium for competitive reasons. Mr. Sajovec said that each of the three facilities averaged 11.3 nonsporting events per year.

"They've greatly overshot the number of convention and trade shows that they'd be able to attract and accommodate at an enclosed football stadium," he said. "Stadiums are occasionally used for overflow or auxiliary space for a car show and boat show. But the number of stand-alone events is almost nonexistent."

Although the Ernst & Young report does not consider the economic impact of a Super Bowl, it does predict that the Jets stadium will be home to the football championship every five years. But the Super Bowl has been awarded to 12 cities, and the number is growing.

L. Jay Cross, president of the Jets, dismissed doubts about the Super Bowl, saying that New York would be in a regular rotation with Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix and possibly Los Angeles. However, he conceded in an interview that contrary to the Ernst & Young report, there was no hope of attracting professional basketball or hockey all-star games.

Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company

I wanna know about those inspiring towers.especially the curved and crystalline one.

the plan is perfect.. except for that ugly green roofing over the convention center

Great link providing various images, information, renderings, details by the architects, KPF:

http://www.kpf.com/NYSCC/nyscc.html

Wow, thanks for the link savethewtc, it's very detailed about the new stadium's features. It looks great, and I can't wait for it to start going up.

Also, when I went back home on leave a few months ago, I saw quite a bit of commercials by a group that's protesting the construction of the stadium. They argued the funds should be spent elsewhere, such as education. What's the general consensus among New Yorkers for this stadium? And is there still strong opposition against it, or is this just one little group whining as always? Thanks.

Wow, thanks for the link savethewtc, it's very detailed about the new stadium's features. It looks great, and I can't wait for it to start going up.

Also, when I went back home on leave a few months ago, I saw quite a bit of commercials by a group that's protesting the construction of the stadium. They argued the funds should be spent elsewhere, such as education. What's the general consensus among New Yorkers for this stadium? And is there still strong opposition against it, or is this just one little group whining as always? Thanks.

I'd say that it's just about evenly split. If it's going to involve large amounts of public funding, then it's bound to have opposition.

Those commercials were run by Dolan, the owner of MSG who opposes the stadium since he would lose more than benefit if the stadium was ever made.

Great link providing various images, information, renderings, details by the architects, KPF:

http://www.kpf.com/NYSCC/nyscc.html

what an UBERAWESOME SITE!

Good angle:

http://www.amdrendering.com/new/projects/kpf/jets/jets2b.jpg

NYTimes.com, November 1, 2004

By NICOLAI OUROUSSOFF

You can't help feeling sorry for the Jets. Their only moment of glory was the Joe Namath era. And for decades, they have suffered the indignity of having to play in a stadium named after their cross-swamp rivals, the Giants. Now the Jets management, with the support of the city, is threatening to create a new stadium on the far West Side of Manhattan that is so crassly commercial it makes the head spin. It may provide the Jets with a home, but it will extinguish any hope of injecting some humanity into the area.


Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the 75,000-seat stadium is shaped like an enormous shoe box and would cover the three blocks from 30th to 33rd Streets on a railyard site overlooking the Hudson River. A retractable roof would allow it to function both as an open-air stadium for the Jets and as an extension of the Jacob J. Javits Convention Center just to the north. The project would have around 50,000 square feet of retail space and a waterfront park.


Until now much of the opposition to the stadium has centered on who would foot the bill for the project. But even if it were a gift to the city, the result would be depressing. As if to mask its colossal scale, the stadium is dressed up in a blinding assortment of L.E.D. screens, advertising, shops and restaurants: a mind-numbing spectacle that would echo through the surrounding neighborhoods. The park spaces, supposedly conceived as an act of civic generosity, are nothing more than banal front lawns for retail outlets. The result looks like a parody of late capitalist consumerism.


Stripped of its excesses, the stadium itself is not all bad. The structure is supported on the north and south sides by a massive steel frame topped by rows of wind turbines that will generate energy for the building. A series of tapered steel trusses spanning its interior evoke the skeletal steel frames of the old waterfront warehouses that once lined the city's piers. The roof slides open to frame a rectangular patch of sky. (The stadium is also designed so that an additional 10,000 seats could be tacked on to the side facing the river if New York wins its bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.)


I've seen uglier stadium designs. Even so, the forms are crude when compared with the sloping concrete planes of Eduardo Souto de Moura's recent soccer stadium in Braga, Portugal, which fold like an origami sculpture to frame views of a valley, or with the soaring tubular arches of Santiago Calatrava's Olympic Stadium in Athens.


Kohn Pedersen Fox tries to cloak the deficiencies behind a veil of high-tech graphics. A narrow band of L.E.D. screens projecting scores and advertising messages would run along the stadium's intermediate level, just in front of the corporate boxes. The four corners of the main concourse level, conceived as "sponsors' rooms," are to be emblazoned with corporate logos and colors.


On the exterior, a series of programmable screens would flash images across the surrounding neighborhood. The largest, a 55,000-square-foot low-resolution L.E.D. screen, would loom over 11th Avenue, projecting soft-focus images of Jets games or convention events. An arrangement of narrower horizontal screens would create a more abstract pattern of moving images across the north and south facades. On game days, beams of colored light would shoot up into the sky from the top of the turbines.


The visual noise would be overwhelming. But what's more unnerving is that some are promoting the stadium design as a model for thoughtful urban development. The proposal is the keystone of a vast development area extending several blocks from Madison Square Garden to the river, with another swath between 10th and 11th Avenues stretching north to 42nd Street. It includes an expanded Pennsylvania Station at the neo-Classical James A. Farley post office building to the east, a corridor of office blocks along 11th Avenue and a smattering of park spaces.


To connect the stadium to that context, the architects have proposed a blocklong park flanking the stadium's north side. The park was conceived as a public promenade, linking 11th Avenue to the river. Yet most of the space for it is swallowed up by a proposed one-story retail complex enclosed by an undulating glass wall at the stadium's base. The complex will house shops, a sports museum and an undetermined cultural venue that was no doubt added to help sell the project to the public. It's a generic urban mall for West Siders, tourists and football fans that would efface the neighborhood's gritty but powerful mix of railyards and industrial buildings. It sends a message that the desires of developers once again trump public welfare.


Worse still is a plan to connect the stadium to the High Line, a 20-block-long strip of abandoned elevated freight tracks that extends south from the stadium site through Chelsea to the meat-packing district. The nonprofit group Friends of the High Line wants to transform the tracks into an elevated public garden that would thread its way through the streetscape and link a number of West Side neighborhoods. But under Kohn Pedersen Fox's design, this park would plug directly into the stadium, serving as an entry point for football games and convention events. An additional pedestrian walkway would connect the stadium to the new Pennsylvania Station in the Farley building.


The contrast between the High Line and the stadium projects could not be more stark. Designed by Field Operations and Diller, Scofidio & Renfro, the High Line plan is conceived as a string of discrete urban moments, ranging from contemplative gardens to an outdoor theater and distant views of the river. The idea is to savor the nuances of everyday urban life, to heighten the contrast between vast scale and intimate spaces that give the city texture.


The stadium plan, by comparison, would transform the High Line into a mundane people-moving machine - a conveyor belt funneling visitors between Pennsylvania Station, the stadium-retail complex and the meat-packing district's bars. It mistakenly assumes that all urban density is good, regardless of its quality. It is a blunt expression of what was once innocently called the culture of consumption.


There is nothing new about this strategy. It is rooted in the tired New Urbanist formulas that sprang up in reaction to the Brutalist aesthetic of 1960's and 70's architecture. But at least those modernist visions were imbued with a spirit of social optimism, even when they failed.


The stadium plan will enrich developers, while adding nothing of value to the public realm. If this is our vision of humane urban planning, we should fear for the future.

Good angle:

http://www.amdrendering.com/new/projects/kpf/jets/jets2b.jpg

Awesome rendering! Although im not really liking the design of stadium.

NY1

State Authority Approves West Side Football Stadium

NOVEMBER 04TH, 2004

The state took its first concrete step toward a West Side Stadium and convention center on Thursday, when the state's Economic Development Authority approved the $1.4 billion plan.

The Empire State Development Corporation's board gave the green light for the city and state to issue a billion dollars in bonds in a 4-0 vote Thursday.

"We want this project to move forward, the city wants the project, the state wants the project, the mayor and governor want this project to move forward," said Charles Gargano of the Empire State Development Corporation.

The stadium would be the new home for the New York Jets, and it could serve as an Olympic stadium if the city wins the 2012 Summer Games.

“I think the development of the west side is arguably the biggest economic development project for the future of this city,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

With the approval of the Empire State Development Corporation, the city and state can begin to issue $600 million in bonds to pay for the stadium, and the city could issue another $400 million in tax-exempt bonds for the Jets, who would later repay the city.

The New York Times reports the team is considering raising money by selling personal seat licenses. That means the Jets' 20,000 season ticket-holders would have to pay a one-time fee (anywhere from $250 to $10,000) just for the guaranteed right to buy seats in the new stadium.

When the numbers were originally floated, the Jets were paying the full $800 million. The head of the authority defended its decision to offer tax-exempt bonds to the team.

"We justify it by the fact that we're not giving it away to help a private developer, we're building public amenities here on the project," said Gargano.

The mayor says New York lacks a venue to host large events.

“Think about it; we have a city of eight million people, the world's second home, people come from around the world and we can't stage an event with more than 30,000 people? You can't grow doing that.”

The mayor says the stadium and convention center will generate $1 billion in tax revenue.

But even with the strong support of the mayor and Governor George Pataki, the West Side stadium project is no slam-dunk.

“No stadium has ever been an economic development project for a city,” said Manhattan Assemblyman Richard Gottfried. ”They're always sold with promises they'll be great for the economy, and they always turn out to be dead weight.”

The project's convention center must be approved by the state Legislature, and there's no clear consensus in Albany. In addition, the city's Planning Commission is expected to release its environmental impact study for the area next week.

And then there's the big debate between the city and state transit officials, who control the air rights where the new stadium would be built.

“Any intelligent person who owned three square blocks of Manhattan prime waterfront real estate, with unobstructed views in four directions, would never dream of using it for a stadium that would produce piddling income for the MTA,” said Gottfried.

The overall plan is expected to go before the City Council next month, and a final vote is scheduled for January.

What I'm hearing is a nice touch, but I don't like the way Bloomberg has tied the construction of West Side Stadium with the expansion of the 7 subway line and the Javits Center (but then again I don't like Bloomberg anyway). IMO these projects should be separate projects under separate plans of design.

Here we go...

NY Times

2 Groups Sue to Halt Action on Jets Stadium

By CHARLES V. BAGLI

Published: December 23, 2004

The battle over a proposed $1.4 billion football stadium on the West Side of Manhattan entered the courtroom yesterday when Cablevision, community groups and transportation advocates filed two lawsuits that could tie up the project.

The lawsuits, which challenge the stadium on environmental grounds, could succeed in thwarting the plan even if they are thrown out of court, if they manage to delay construction for a significant period. Stadium opponents said they hoped that the litigation would push back the beginning of construction until July 6, when they expect the International Olympic Committee to skip over New York and pick Paris for the 2012 Olympic Games. Opponents predict that the stadium effort will then lose momentum and die.

One suit was filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan yesterday by West Side residents, a small-business owner and Cablevision, which owns Madison Square Garden and views the stadium as competition. It challenges the city's recently completed environmental review, saying it was a process "characterized by manipulated data, baseless assumptions, incomplete disclosure and a distortion of the project's significant environmental impacts." The other suit more narrowly focuses on the city's finding that more than two-thirds of fans will take public transit or walk to Jets games.

In a statement, City Hall dismissed the broader lawsuit as the work of "lying monopolists," referring to members of the Dolan family, which controls Cablevision. The statement called the suit an "ill-disguised and frivolous attempt" to rehash earlier allegations.

The Jets and their supporters say they are confident of winning in court, whether victory comes before or after the International Olympic Committee meeting in July. If the suits are thrown out, the Jets can immediately start work on the project, because they expect to have obtained all the necessary political approvals by that time. Under the terms of their deal, the Jets would invest $800 million in the project, while the city and the state would contribute $300 million each.

In any event, the broader lawsuit contends that the city underestimated the volume of cars and taxis that would flow to and from the stadium on game days because it relied on a flawed survey of 600 Jets season ticket holders. The survey found that about 70 percent of the fans arriving at the 75,000-seat stadium would arrive by public transit or on foot.

Quoting a phrase used in an e-mail message between a Jets executive and consultants for the city, the lawsuit said the survey contained "push questions" intended to elicit responses that would suggest a more limited effect on traffic.

City officials insisted that the survey was a legitimate effort and said they ultimately used a more conservative number in the environmental review: 68 percent of the fans would arrive by public transportation. Yesterday, they released a Department of City Planning memo from June 9 showing that in an initial response, 69.3 percent of those surveyed said they would use mass transit. In response to a push question, the number rose to 76.7 percent.

The results of the survey, the lawsuit said, distorted the assessments of traffic, noise and air pollution. Even so, the review acknowledges that the project would barely meet clean air standards, the suit said.

"Government decision makers cannot make rational decisions about one of the largest and costliest projects in city history when the information on which they are relying is inaccurate, misleading and unreliable," said Randy Mastro, a lawyer for the groups. "This intentional manipulation of traffic data undermines the entire environmental review process here."

In a conference call with reporters, Mr. Mastro said the groups were seeking a new environmental review, which could take months to complete, and an injunction against the construction of the stadium.

The other suit, by two advocacy groups - the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the Straphangers Campaign - was also filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. It says the city "underestimates the traffic and related impacts of the proposed stadium," because it relies on a survey whose methodology is "notoriously inaccurate," according to the Tri-State group.

The two groups wanted to separate themselves from Cablevision and the ongoing feud with Mayor Bloomberg to focus on the issues in a nonpartisan manner, one person involved in the suit said.

The plaintiffs say they do not oppose a $1.4 billion plan to expand the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, a separate but related element in the city's plans for the West Side.

The city's environmental review was undertaken by the Department of City Planning and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in connection with a proposal to rezone a 59-block area and to extend the No. 7 subway line from Times Square to 11th Avenue and 34th Street.

This is just sad...there's an attempt to bring a NEW YORK team into the boundries of NEW YORK state, and the owner of a venue which hosts other NEW YORK teams sues. Am I missing something here? :|

How long would this lawsuit take? Wow they can construct as soon as this is over..

We're so close! Yet so far away.

Good Job To New York For Getting A Stadium,but Doesn't It Look Like A Shoebox

Looks like February 16 is the big day...

NY POST

PLANNERS PREPARE FOR FINAL DRIVE IN JETS STADIUM PUSH

By TOM TOPOUSIS

January 18, 2005 -- The Jets' Super Bowl dream has come crashing down, but the team's hope for a new stadium on the far West Side is still alive and making a push toward the goal line.

Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, the project's top booster, will lead the charge for the $1.4 billion project to Albany at a Feb. 16 meeting of the Public Authorities Control Board, made up of the state's three top elected officials.

But Doctoroff will have to go to Albany with a detailed playbook on how the city plans to finance its $300 million share of the project and exactly what the cash-strapped MTA will be paid for development rights on its rail yard.

"By that time, we will flesh out specifically where the city's source of the funding will come from," Doctoroff said. "The final step is getting the PACB approval, and we are hoping to get that in February."

Sources involved in the talks between the city and state lawmakers told The Post the city is considering tapping a $45 million annual stream of revenues collected by the Economic Development Corp. to raise the $300 million.

The Public Authorities Control Board is made up of Gov. Pataki's appointee, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. So far, only Pataki has signed on to the stadium plan.

It will be built mark my words.

Me hopes.

New look, I'm liking it...

NY Daily News

Stadium plan slashed
Jets trim size of Hudson behemoth

BY MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

The Jets have scaled back the design of their proposed West Side stadium, cutting away 120 feet from its highest point, the Daily News has learned.

The new design removes a significant amount of structural steel as well as the large wind turbines that were a conspicuous element of the original plan.

It also introduces a unique "glass veil" that will be suspended around the stadium.

"They're trying to create a much lighter look to the structure, not a massive look," Charles Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development Corp., told the Daily News.

Some of the other design changes in the plan, which the Jets will release today, include:

# The main entrance has been moved from the north side of the building to 32nd St., offering a long vista from the stadium eastward into the surrounding neighborhood.

# The lowest level of the stadium is being moved back 15 feet, doubling the sidewalk width along 11th Ave. to 30 feet from 15 feet. That will create a large public plaza that will serve as a 35,000-square-foot retail and entertainment corridor.

The change in height will be dramatic, Gargano said.

"There was some concern about anyone from the east looking toward ... the Hudson River had this gigantic structure blocking their view," he said.

Jets officials, who have been working for weeks with the Municipal Arts Society and City Planning Commission Chairwoman Amanda Burden, declined to comment yesterday.

The city and the state have pledged $600 million to the project, which would be built between 30th and 33rd Sts., between 11th and 12th Aves. The Jets have agreed to contribute $800 million, but Jets President Jay Cross said he now estimates the team will spend about $1 billion because of the rising construction costs.

The higher price tag has nothing to do with the design changes, sources said.

The Empire State Development Corp., which is run by Gargano and controlled by Gov. Pataki, is expected to approve the project in the coming weeks. No date has yet been set for the vote, Gargano said.

The project also needs approval from the state Public Authorities Control Board, and that may prove difficult because Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) sits on that board and he remains undecided. The stadium also faces two lawsuits.

Gargano said one of the "most striking elements" of the new design is the glass veil, which he said was a "semiopaque glass structure that will hover around the internal building."

"So, if you are standing underneath the building, one can see that the veil is actually a glass curtain ... above the main structure, supported by thin steel beams."

"It gives it a great look," Gargano added. "It looks like it's just floating there."

http://www.nydailynews.com/static/images/graphics/stadium.jpg

Originally published on February 1, 2005

Renderings of new look:

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo3.jpg

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo2.jpg

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo1.jpg

AMAZING AS I SAID OVER AT SSP. My grievences about boxy and steel skeleton have ALL been met, this better be built...

And the rendering with all the new towers really frames the stadium nicely. mmm mmmmmm

Can some one post the picture links of the above images, of course without the [IMG] stuff, thanks.

Can some one post the picture links of the above images, of course without the [IMG] stuff, thanks.

No problem. Here you go:

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo3.jpg

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo2.jpg

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo1.jpg

so do you think it will get approved?

Another wrench in the works...
---------------
New York Times
February 5, 2005

Owner of Garden Outbids Jets For Stadium Site
By CHARLES V. BAGLI

The owner of Madison Square Garden, after spending many months and millions of dollars trying to prevent the Jets and the city from building a football stadium on the West Side, played its boldest card yet yesterday, offering to pay far more for the land than the Jets have proposed.

Cablevision, which owns the Garden, said it would pay $600 million to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the right to build office buildings and housing at the 13-acre West Side railyards. The offer includes the price of a $250 million deck over the yards for the development.

The Jets, on the other hand, have offered the M.T.A. $100 million for the land, with the city and state splitting the cost of the deck. The authority has asked the Jets to pay $300 million for the parcel.With the Jets and the authority heading toward arbitration in the matter, the Cablevision offer throws a deliberate wrench into the politically charged negotiation between the parties. The authority has been assailed by stadium opponents and transit advocates who have said that it is not seeking enough money from the Jets for the land, and that it could make more money for the transit system if it considered another proposal.

Whether Cablevision is serious about becoming a real estate developer or whether it is simply trying to embarrass the Jets and the M.T.A., its offer demonstrates the enormous sums and political forces at stake in the stadium battle. It could succeed at driving up the price of the land beyond the point at which the Jets would be able to afford a stadium - ending what the Dolan family, which owns Cablevision, has always said would be a threat to its sports arena over Pennsylvania Station.

And the move comes just two weeks before the International Olympic Committee is due in New York to assess the city's bid for the 2012 Olympic games, which hinges on the use of the stadium for Olympic events. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has hoped to demonstrate to the committee that the stadium is a virtual certainty.

The Bloomberg administration and the Jets took a harsh view of the latest tactic from a company that has paid for television ads denouncing the stadium proposal and Mayor Bloomberg. City officials said the Cablevision plan would take longer to evolve than the stadium, depriving the city of years of revenue.

"This is a desperate, last minute attempt to derail a project that will create thousands of jobs, more than $1 billion in tax revenue, and allow New York to realize its Olympic dreams by building a world class sports and convention center," said Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff in a statement released yesterday. "A Friday afternoon press release doesn't replace years of planning, design, negotiation and public review from which this project has benefited."

City officials also said Cablevision had not explained how it would pay for the project, although the city has never fully described its financial plan for a share of the stadium costs.

The Jets, who recently redesigned plans for the stadium in an attempt to mollify critics, also blasted Cablevision.

"This is a desperate ploy and a cynical P.R. gimmick by a company that has already demonstrated that it will do anything to protect its monopoly," said Marissa Shorenstein, a Jets spokeswoman.

Cablevision's $600 million offer came in the form of a letter to Peter S. Kalikow, chairman of the M.T.A., from the Garden's vice chairman, Hank Ratner. He said the Garden would develop a "dynamic mixed-use community," including a hotel, housing, recreation, entertainment and office space that would serve as "a beautiful, dramatic and vital neighbor to the newly expanded Javits Convention Center."

Mr. Ratner estimated that it would cost $250 million to build a deck and expressed a willingness to share the cost of any overruns. Although the Garden is not known for building skyscrapers, real estate executives say the company would have little trouble finding an experienced development partner.

The offer came as a surprise to the M.T.A. and stunned City Hall, which had been hoping that the M.T.A. board would agree next week to send its dispute with the Jets to arbitration.

"This is the first indication we have received from the Garden after months of public discussion that they are interested in our property," said Tom Kelly, a spokesman for the authority. "We are reviewing the proposal."

The M.T.A., which is facing service cuts and multibillion-dollar gaps in its capital budget, will not reject the offer out of hand. Mr. Kelly said that Mr. Kalikow's main concern is obtaining the best financial deal he can for the M.T.A. and its customers. But the authority does want to conclude a deal quickly and, executives involved in West Side development say, the authority could ask for final offers for the site before the M.T.A. board meets on Feb. 24.

Gov. George E. Pataki has publicly supported the Bloomberg administration's effort to build the $1.4 billion stadium and the state's development arm would oversee the project, which would be on state-controlled land. But despite pledging $300 million for the stadium, the governor has often left it to Mr. Bloomberg to do the heavy lifting.

Many real estate executives say privately that land on the once dormant West Side has recently become a hot commodity.

"This underscores what we've said all along," said Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association, which opposes the stadium. "This is a valuable site and the M.T.A. has a responsibility to get the highest dollar amount."

State Senator Thomas K. Duane, a Democrat who represents the West Side and opposes the stadium, embraced Cablevision's offer. "We always wanted competition, to see what's best for the site, for the M.T.A., the West Side and for the city. I think this is a genuine attempt to provide other options for the use of this site."

Cablevision's stock closed yesterday at $27.32, down 10 cents.

Kinda of topic but... are those buildings that you can see in this pic going to be built or proposed or something?

http://nyscc.newyorkjets.com/images/new-photo3.jpg

Another wrench in the works...
---------------
New York Times
February 5, 2005

Owner of Garden Outbids Jets For Stadium Site
By CHARLES V. BAGLI

The owner of Madison Square Garden, after spending many months and millions of dollars trying to prevent the Jets and the city from building a football stadium on the West Side, played its boldest card yet yesterday, offering to pay far more for the land than the Jets have proposed.

Cablevision, which owns the Garden, said it would pay $600 million to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the right to build office buildings and housing at the 13-acre West Side railyards. The offer includes the price of a $250 million deck over the yards for the development.

The Jets, on the other hand, have offered the M.T.A. $100 million for the land, with the city and state splitting the cost of the deck. The authority has asked the Jets to pay $300 million for the parcel.With the Jets and the authority heading toward arbitration in the matter, the Cablevision offer throws a deliberate wrench into the politically charged negotiation between the parties. The authority has been assailed by stadium opponents and transit advocates who have said that it is not seeking enough money from the Jets for the land, and that it could make more money for the transit system if it considered another proposal.

Whether Cablevision is serious about becoming a real estate developer or whether it is simply trying to embarrass the Jets and the M.T.A., its offer demonstrates the enormous sums and political forces at stake in the stadium battle. It could succeed at driving up the price of the land beyond the point at which the Jets would be able to afford a stadium - ending what the Dolan family, which owns Cablevision, has always said would be a threat to its sports arena over Pennsylvania Station.

And the move comes just two weeks before the International Olympic Committee is due in New York to assess the city's bid for the 2012 Olympic games, which hinges on the use of the stadium for Olympic events. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has hoped to demonstrate to the committee that the stadium is a virtual certainty.

The Bloomberg administration and the Jets took a harsh view of the latest tactic from a company that has paid for television ads denouncing the stadium proposal and Mayor Bloomberg. City officials said the Cablevision plan would take longer to evolve than the stadium, depriving the city of years of revenue.

"This is a desperate, last minute attempt to derail a project that will create thousands of jobs, more than $1 billion in tax revenue, and allow New York to realize its Olympic dreams by building a world class sports and convention center," said Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff in a statement released yesterday. "A Friday afternoon press release doesn't replace years of planning, design, negotiation and public review from which this project has benefited."

City officials also said Cablevision had not explained how it would pay for the project, although the city has never fully described its financial plan for a share of the stadium costs.

The Jets, who recently redesigned plans for the stadium in an attempt to mollify critics, also blasted Cablevision.

"This is a desperate ploy and a cynical P.R. gimmick by a company that has already demonstrated that it will do anything to protect its monopoly," said Marissa Shorenstein, a Jets spokeswoman.

Cablevision's $600 million offer came in the form of a letter to Peter S. Kalikow, chairman of the M.T.A., from the Garden's vice chairman, Hank Ratner. He said the Garden would develop a "dynamic mixed-use community," including a hotel, housing, recreation, entertainment and office space that would serve as "a beautiful, dramatic and vital neighbor to the newly expanded Javits Convention Center."

Mr. Ratner estimated that it would cost $250 million to build a deck and expressed a willingness to share the cost of any overruns. Although the Garden is not known for building skyscrapers, real estate executives say the company would have little trouble finding an experienced development partner.

The offer came as a surprise to the M.T.A. and stunned City Hall, which had been hoping that the M.T.A. board would agree next week to send its dispute with the Jets to arbitration.

"This is the first indication we have received from the Garden after months of public discussion that they are interested in our property," said Tom Kelly, a spokesman for the authority. "We are reviewing the proposal."

The M.T.A., which is facing service cuts and multibillion-dollar gaps in its capital budget, will not reject the offer out of hand. Mr. Kelly said that Mr. Kalikow's main concern is obtaining the best financial deal he can for the M.T.A. and its customers. But the authority does want to conclude a deal quickly and, executives involved in West Side development say, the authority could ask for final offers for the site before the M.T.A. board meets on Feb. 24.

Gov. George E. Pataki has publicly supported the Bloomberg administration's effort to build the $1.4 billion stadium and the state's development arm would oversee the project, which would be on state-controlled land. But despite pledging $300 million for the stadium, the governor has often left it to Mr. Bloomberg to do the heavy lifting.

Many real estate executives say privately that land on the once dormant West Side has recently become a hot commodity.

"This underscores what we've said all along," said Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association, which opposes the stadium. "This is a valuable site and the M.T.A. has a responsibility to get the highest dollar amount."

State Senator Thomas K. Duane, a Democrat who represents the West Side and opposes the stadium, embraced Cablevision's offer. "We always wanted competition, to see what's best for the site, for the M.T.A., the West Side and for the city. I think this is a genuine attempt to provide other options for the use of this site."

Cablevision's stock closed yesterday at $27.32, down 10 cents.

ugh.. stupid people..

Don't know if this will change anything, but this made me smile when I read it. Basically Dolan getting bitchslapped...

NFL to move Draft

Don Banks, SI.com


After years of conducting its nationally televised two-day college draft from Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theater, the NFL will move the event this year due to its ongoing dispute with the Dolan family, which owns MSG and has emerged as the most vocal opponent of a new stadium for the New York Jets on the west side of Manhattan.

Two league sources confirmed to SI.com that the draft will in all likelihood be held April 23-24 at the nearby Jacob Javits Convention Center, which is adjacent to the site on which the Jets hope to occupy the $1.4 billion West Side stadium starting in 2009.

In moving the draft away from the Garden -- its home since 1995 -- the league is playing hardball with the Dolan family, which is opposing the Jets new stadium because it fears the facility could draw premier events away from its historic venue in mid-town Manhattan.

"They're fighting one of our owners (Jets owner Woody Johnson),'' said a league source. "We've got to move it. It's a matter of who do you side with? We're definitely not going back to the Garden.''

Besides the Javits Center, the NFL's special-events department also investigated moving the draft to the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, as well as sites in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. But the Javits Center emerged as the leading candidate to land the event, largely because NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue expressed a strong desire to keep the draft in New York, where it has been held since 1965.

While the league has yet to sign a contract with the Javits Center for the draft, sources say the first item of business for incoming NFL vice president of special events Frank Supovitz will be to finalize the deal with the venue. Supovitz is replacing longtime the league's longtime head of special events, Jim Steeg, who left the NFL after this year's Super Bowl to become the San Diego Chargers' chief operating officer.

Last week, the fight between the Dolan family and the NFL grew even more contentious when MSG announced that it was offering $600 million for the 2 million square foot tract of Metropolitan Transportation Authority-owned land that the city has targeted for the Jets' new stadium, which is the centerpiece of New York's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

"It's getting ugly,'' said the league source. "The Dolans are trying everything they can to keep the Garden from losing all those big events that would wind up at the new stadium.''

yeah im interested in those towers as well ,anybody in the know?

the dolans are probably giants fans

the dolans are probably seeking hatred from NYC 2012 olympic supporters

NY POST

NEW $770M BID MADE ON W. SIDE SITE

By ED ROBINSON

February 22, 2005 -- A company that has been fighting with the city to build a power plant in Brooklyn has made a $700 million offer to buy the West Side rail yards — where the city wants to build a new stadium for the Jets and, hopefully, the Olympics.

The bid, from TransGas Energy, is the third for the site.

Its president, Adam Victor, said yesterday said his company is not necessarily seeking to build over the land, at least for now.

But it's willing to pay the huge amount for the property if the MTA agrees to sign a 20-year contract with TransGas to provide the energy it needs to run its trains.

The city would also have to agree to let the firm build its power plant on North 12th Street in Greenpoint.

If a deal went through, the company would have "no problem talking to the Jets or Cablevision about the land," Victor said.

"To us, the issue is a long-term contract with the MTA."

Victor has feuded for several years with members of the Bloomberg administration including Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, who've been trying to block the Brooklyn plant.

But he insists his offer is not revenge.

"This is about getting the MTA a new source of power," he said.

"We hope Mr. Doctoroff gets the Olympics."

Doctoroff has been the city's point man in its Olympic bid.

The Brooklyn site that TransGas wants to build on is currently set to become the Olympic aquatic center, under the city's proposal. But Victor said he's willing to negotiate.

After negotiating with the Jets for a year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed to sell the rail yards to the team for $100 million.

The city also wants to use the stadium for the Olympics and considers it a key element of its bid for the 2012 Games.

Cablevision has waged a battle against the stadium, which would compete with its Madison Square Garden.

It offered the MTA $600 million for the yards, hoping to derail the Jets' plan.

After Cablevision made its move, the MTA opened the bidding to anyone — with a deadline of March 21.

The MTA had no immediate comment.

BUILD THE STADIUM! :bash:

They should build it, I like how it's integrated into the city, a circular building just wouldn't fit.

Daily News

IOC: We want a stadium

BY MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

Calling Mayor Bloomberg a "winner," the chairwoman of the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission said yesterday the panel has "trust" that he will build a $1.7 billion stadium on the West Side.

"For us, it's important to have the stadium," Nawal El Moutawakel said during a news conference at The Plaza Hotel that capped her panel's whirlwind four-day visit to New York.

Looking directly at Bloomberg, she said, "Mr. Mayor and all the team is aware of this and they gave us all the assurances."

"He's a winner and his team is a winning team," she added. "So, we trust that between now and March, end of March, or even July, this project hopefully will come to an end."

El Moutawakel, a former Olympic hurdler, said the proposed stadium "can be a very important legacy" to the city and that her panel will be watching developments "very closely."

The commission completed its intensive examination of the city's bid for the 2012 Summer Games - including presentations on all 17 chapters of the city's voluminous bid book and site visits to the proposed sporting venues.

New York is competing against Paris, London, Moscow and Madrid for the Games. The IOC will select the host city, by secret ballot, during its July 6 meeting in Singapore.

The commission, which visited Madrid and London before arriving in New York, is scheduled to evaluate Paris and Moscow next month. They will publish a comprehensive report on all five cities at least 30 days before the vote.

During their four-day stay in the city, the commission members hit everywhere from the West Side site to Flushing Meadows to Madison Square Garden.

They stayed at The Plaza, and were treated to a special show at Lincoln Center and a star-studded banquet at the mayor's upper East Side home.

El Moutawakel offered praise to the city's sporting venues, both existing and proposed, calling them "high quality."

"We have seen here ... very, very good stadiums. We have been to Madison Square Garden ... to Flushing Meadows. We have seen such great infrastructure," she said.

Three commission members were so enthralled with the Garden that they attended the Knicks game last night.

The Garden is owned by Cablevision, the chief opponent of a West Side stadium. But CEO James Dolan offered the commission members courtside seats and spent time with them in Cablevision's corporate skybox.

"It is our great pleasure to have them here," Dolan said.

As for the next few months, Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, founder of the city's Games bid, will travel to at least four different countries as he tries to sell the city's bid.

"We felt that there is a passion and love for sports," El Moutawakel said. "And we must thank the people of New York for that."

Originally published on February 25, 2005

good news indeed

Models of the redesigned stadium:

http://www.curbed.com/archives/2005_02_jetsstad1.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-02/16123243.jpg

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-02/16123301.jpg

Jets now have the top bid, plus they added residential development to their original plan...

NY Times

Jets and Rivals Increase Bids for Railyards

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: March 22, 2005

The Jets sharply raised the stakes yesterday in their battle to build a football stadium over the West Side railyards, offering the state $720 million for the site and adding a residential development to their original plan. The bid is far larger than the team's original $100 million offer.

At the same time, Cablevision and another rival bidder also increased their offers for what has become one of the most hotly disputed sections of Manhattan since rival gangs battled over Five Points. Cablevision, the principal opponent of the stadium, unveiled new details of its proposal, which involves thousands of housing units, a park and a hotel.

The three bids were submitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority yesterday shortly before the 5 p.m. deadline the authority set last month when it opened up the competition, which led the Jets to offer far more for the land. The authority's choice among the proposals, to be made by the end of March, will be crucial in determining whether the stadium so eagerly sought by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will be built, or whether another company's vision will rise along the Hudson River in Midtown.

The Jets, who have labored for four years to be able to build themselves a new home in Manhattan, announced that they would build a large retail area along 11th Avenue, a community market, a theater, a museum and a riverfront cafe, all within or adjacent to the stadium. At the same time, the team said it had formed an alliance with six real estate developers who have agreed to supplement the team's bid by paying the state for excess development rights for the stadium. The rights would be used to build millions of square feet of mostly residential construction within a few blocks of the stadium, in the 42-block area around the railyards that the city is trying to revitalize.

A real estate executive involved in the effort, who asked not to be identified, said the developers have agreed to buy the additional building rights for $440 million if the city agrees to rezone the 13-acre parcel for residential development, a process that could take a year or longer, even if it is successful. The amount is included in the $720 million bid. The Jets said the developers agreed to participate because they believe the stadium will enhance the value of the surrounding area and make the investment worthwhile.

The team's original proposal involved no residential development beyond the stadium site, and would not have required rezoning. But the Jets original, $100 million offer was topped last month by its rival, Cablevision, owner of Madison Square Garden, which bid $600 million, including the $250 million cost of a platform over the yards that the Jets expected the city and state to pay for.

Cablevision, which considers the stadium to be competition, has pushed its offer for the development rights well beyond its original $600 million bid, according to an executive who works with the company, but the exact amount was not disclosed.

The company also wants the site rezoned so that it can build what it is calling Hudson Gardens, a major residential complex with a hotel and a park, rather than a stadium. But, unlike the Jets' offer, the company's offer to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is not contingent on rezoning, according to the executive.

A third bidder, TransGas Energy Systems, submitted a proposal yesterday for $1 billion; its original offer was $700 million. The proposal is considered unlikely to be accepted, because it requires the transportation authority to help TransGas build a $2 billion electric power plant along the East River in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, along with a contract from the authority to buy power from the company for the next 20 years.

Two other companies, World Network International Services and Missak Financial Group, also submitted bids, but both were immediately rejected by the transportation agency because they did not include a required deposit of $25,000, authority officials said.

The two major bids were unveiled with a publicity extravaganza not unexpected for a rivalry that has featured millions of dollars in attack advertisements and bitter political feuding. Cablevision presented its plans at Radio City Music Hall, which it controls. The Jets employed Emerson Boozer and nine other current or former players to drop off their bid in shiny metal briefcases.

In the Art Deco lobby of Radio City, Hank Ratner, vice chairman of Madison Square Garden, unveiled the details of his company's plan, which calls for about 5,800 apartments in glass and brick towers scattered about a 13-acre platform over the yard from 30th to 33rd Streets. The tallest buildings are on 11th Avenue, while a five-acre park extends toward the waterfront.

The project includes about 800 units for low- and moderate-income residents, a 750-room budget hotel for conventioneers, a public library, an elementary school and a "performing arts enclave" that would complement elements of the Broadway theater industry in the neighborhood.

Though Mayor Bloomberg criticized the Cablevision presentation as a "publicity stunt," he said yesterday that the city would work with the winning developer, no matter who it is.

"We've got to go and deal with whatever it is, and if we can get the Olympics that would be great," he said. "If we can get other development, great. If someone wants to do something differently and they pay the highest price, the city will cooperate with them and do anything we can."

Even if the Jets win the auction for the development rights, the team still faces a number of hurdles. The project requires approval by the state Public Authorities Review Board, controlled by Gov. George E. Pataki and the leaders of the Senate and Assembly. Stadium opponents on the City Council and in the State Legislature are also moving to prevent Mayor Bloomberg from subsidizing the stadium by diverting tens of millions of dollar in real estate payments funds that normally flow into the city's operating budget.

But according to one executive who has been briefed on the Jets' offer, the team is willing to sign a guarantee that it will build a platform over the railyards regardless of whether it gets a promised $600 million from the city and the state.

Newsday
March 31, 2005

MTA approves Jets' rail yard bid

Associated Press

The New York Jets' plan for a $1.7 billion Manhattan stadium that could also serve as the centerpiece of the 2012 Olympics cleared a major hurdle Thursday with approval of the team's bid by the state agency that owns the proposed site.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted unanimously in favor of the team's $720 million offer for rights to develop the site over a remote railyard next to the Hudson River.

The board rejected competing proposals from Cablevision Systems Corp., owner of Madison Square Garden, and TransGas Energy Systems LLC.

"This is a tremendous project with tremendous jobs, and I can go home at night and sleep soundly knowing I am pushing this forward," said James Simpson, chairman of the MTA's real estate committee.

The plan still requires approval by the Empire State Development Corporation, which has already stated its support, and the Public Authorities Control Board -- made up of Republican Gov. George Pataki, Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The latter two have expressed some reservations.

"We have what we have," MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow said before the vote. "I think it's an excellent deal."

Cablevision, the most vociferous opponent of the Jets' plan, was expected to mount a legal challenge to the MTA vote. And anti-stadium demonstrators at the hearing began chanting "Sweetheart deal!" once the vote was completed.

The voting at the MTA's midtown Manhattan headquarters was preceded by public comments to the board, with some of the most pointed attacks on the plan coming from a pair of Democratic mayoral hopefuls.

City Council speaker Gifford Miller, even before the vote was taken, warned that the fight over the stadium would continue if the Jets were awarded the property.

"Why are you doing this?" Miller asked the panel as the audience inside MTA headquarters cheered and booed. "This is not over. This is a terrible mistake."

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who supports a new stadium in his home borough of Queens, attacked Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the "regrettable way" that the bidding process was handled. And he warned the MTA board to expect legal challenges to their vote.

"You're going to be sued," Weiner said. "You're going to have to explain in court over months and months and years and years why it is you chose a lower bid."

Several union members, along with City Council member Leroy Comrie of Queens, spoke in favor of the West Side development.

"The Jets' proposal, the Olympics, are the best thing for New York," said union worker Kevin Crowley.

The MTA, which runs the nation's largest mass transit system, opened the bidding process for the site earlier this month, one year after city and state officials announced the stadium plan.

Under the Jets' proposal, the team would provide up to $720 million, with $440 million coming from six developers who would buy excess development rights on the site.

Their offer would depend on zoning changes. The state and city would pay $600 million for a platform over the railyards and a retractable roof.

Cablevision's offer of $760 million included $400 million in cash up front and the rest in a promise to construct a platform over the railyards. Cablevision's Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks and New York Rangers play home games, is just blocks from the railyards.

The Garden's owners fear the new facility would drain events and revenue from "The World's Most Famous Arena."

TransGas Energy Systems LLC offered $1.05 billion, but the energy company's long-shot bid was rejected by the MTA board before its vote.

The Jets' lease at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. expires in 2009.

The vote came as a Quinnipiac University poll found New Yorkers oppose the stadium 53 to 38 percent, a margin that has remained fairly consistent since January. Hispanic and black respondents were slightly more likely than whites to favor the stadium.

Copyright © 2005, Newsday, Inc.

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~

Well now we're getting somewhere

:badnews:

Here comes the lawsuit...

NY Newsday

Cablevison suit: MTA 'rigged' bids

BY JOSHUA ROBIN
STAFF WRITER; Staff writer Bryan Virasami contributed to this story.

April 6, 2005

Cablevision yesterday filed suit against the MTA, claiming that the bidding process for the authority's rail yards that it lost last week was "rigged" and guaranteed that the Jets would win.

Joining the suit with an affidavit is Richard Ravitch, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from 1979 to 1984. Ravitch, who is credited for steering the transit system out of near collapse two decades ago, has for months criticized how his former agency handled the sale.

"This process did not produce the highest price obtainable for the Authority," Ravitch's affidavit stated.

Aside from the MTA, named as defendants in the suit filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, are the Jets, which offered the authority about $250 million to build the stadium, and the Bloomberg administration, which the suit claimed long colluded with the MTA to ensure the stadium would be built at the 13-acre site.

The suit seeks to have a judge invalidate the MTA's March 31 vote and instead award a contract to Cablevision, which owns Madison Square Garden and offered $400 million to build a largely residential development as a way to avoid competition for its own arena.

As an alternative, the suit asks that the MTA redo the bidding in "a fair and proper" way, taking into account the authority's financial responsibility.

"It is undisputed that MSG was the highest qualified bidder," the suit states. "The MTA board was therefore legally obligated to award this property, if at all, to MSG, which offered the most dollars for transportation purposes."

The suit also criticizes the short window when bids were accepted, the MTA's willingness to accept a contingent bid when officials previously said they would not, and the authority's reliance in the bidding process on a real estate company with links to a pro-stadium group. The bulk of the Jets offer was a development adjacent to the stadium that required zoning changes.

An MTA spokeswoman said the agency had not yet seen the suit and had no comment. In voting for the Jets, at least one board member acknowledged that Cablevision offered more money up front, but said the Jets offer could boost future MTA revenue.

Asked about the suit at a Brooklyn news conference, Mayor Michael Bloomberg replied: "Well, if you can't beat 'em, sue 'em, I guess, is unfortunately the way some people go about it."

The Jets called the lawsuit "frivolous," and echoed Bloomberg in saying that the stadium plan would create jobs.

New York Times
April 7, 2005

Legal Battle Against Stadium Won't Stop It, Bloomberg Says

By JIM RUTENBERG

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg expressed confidence yesterday that state officials would approve his proposal for a West Side stadium despite a lawsuit threatening to block it.

State approval for the football stadium will ultimately have to come unanimously from the Public Authorities Control Board, which is controlled by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, and two Republicans: the Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, and Gov. George E. Pataki.

"I believe that the P.A.C.B. will go ahead and approve this project," Mr. Bloomberg told reporters, "because I think the governor and the majority leader and the speaker will be convinced that this is in New York City's and New York State's interest."

Cablevision filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block the project, five days after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority accepted the Jets' offer of $210 million for the rights to build the stadium at the West Side railyards.

Cablevision accused the M.T.A. of abandoning its fiduciary duty by snubbing the company's offer of more money for the rights to build housing over the yards; it offered $760 million, including $360 million for a platform, which under the Jets' proposal would be paid for with state and city tax money. The M.T.A.'s board said the Jets' proposal was better for the long-term interests of the authority and the city. The stadium and convention center could be used for the Summer Olympics in 2012 if the city's bid to land the Games is successful.

State officials said the Public Authorities Control Board could not meet to decide the fate of the stadium until it first wins approval of the Empire State Development Corporation, which is controlled by Governor Pataki, who has expressed support for the plan.

Ron Jury, a spokesman for the corporation, said the Empire State's board of five Pataki appointees would meet to vote on the stadium plan by the end of April. Assuming the board approves - as officials at all levels of government say they expect - it would go to the Public Authorities Control Board for approval.

In an interview on radio station WFAN, Mr. Silver said of the mayor's stadium push that "the bulk of the public doesn't agree with him on this point." He also said the suit "now slows it down."

But Governor Pataki told reporters yesterday: "Lawsuits are lawsuits. And the P.A.C.B. in the past has acted when there were lawsuits pending, and I think they should this time as well."

Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company

(Posted by NYguy on WNY)

GlobeSt.com
April 12, 2005

ESDC Board Approves NYSCC

By Barbara Jarvie

NEW YORK CITY-In a meeting today, the board of directors of Empire State Development Corp approved the general project plan for the New York Sports and Convention Center. The project is a multi-purpose facility--home for the New York Jets football team--will double as a 75,000-seat stadium and an 180,000 sf exhibit hall on the West Side. The NYSCC project must now go before the Public Authorities Control Board.

“Today’s action is another positive step in the New York Sports and Convention Center project,” says Empire State Development Corp. chairman Charles A. Gargano. “This is an economic development project that will strongly enhance New York’s ability to attract conventions and conferences.”

The board’s action follows an ESDC public hearing and comment period and initial adoption of the general project plan last November. Gargano says the project is expected to generate more than $1 billion in city and state tax revenue while creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs. Funding for the project includes $600 million in state and city financing as well as an $800 million investment by the Jets. The city and state will share the cost of the platform while city financing will also pay for the roof, making it a year-round multi-use sports and convention center.

The site for the sports and convention center is on the city’s far west side, bounded by West 30th and West 33rd streets, and 11th and 12th avenues.

The facility is to be built on a steel and concrete platform above the railyards currently owned by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, an affiliate of the MTA. The MTA recently approved a proposal from the Jets for the property. In order to convert the stadium to a convention facility, the NYSCC will include a removable palletized artificial playing field.

The Jets have agreed to provide $250 million to the MTA as part of the project at the time of the contract signing.

© 2005 by GlobeSt.com

good news.

any news about the stadium?

White House working behind the scenes...

NY POST

W. ON JETS' TEAM

By TOM TOPOUSIS

May 27, 2005 -- The White House and President Bush's allies are working aggressively behind the scenes to win approval of the Jets' stadium on the West Side, as a crucial deadline approaches, officials said yesterday.

The White House sees the proposed stadium as essential to the city's 2012 Olympic bid, which the president and his supporters believe would showcase to the world the rebirth of Ground Zero.

"Seven years from now, Ground Zero will take shape and will look spectacular. To have a moment to celebrate that would be fantastic," said Roland Betts, a close friend of Bush and his point man on the city's Olympic bid committee.

"The White House is very aware of that," said Betts, who has known Bush since their days together at Yale University.

The effort to convince key state lawmakers to approve the stadium began this week with phone calls from White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and from Betts, who is also on the board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.

State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver hold the fate of the stadium in their hands because they control two of the three votes on the Public Authorities Control Board, which must approve the project.

Gov. Pataki is the only member of the board to so far back the stadium, which would become home for the New York Jets.

"Mr. Card called Mr. Bruno. And I have called Mr. Bruno. There's no question we want the Olympics to come to the United States," said Betts. "We believe having the games in 2012 would coincide with the rebuilding of Ground Zero."

Asked if there would be more than just phone calls made to help convince Silver and Bruno, Betts would only say, "No comment."

But sources familiar with the effort to build the stadium expect more pressure to come from Washington. Among the projects on Silver's wish list is the Second Avenue subway, which will depend heavily on federal funding.

A spokesman for Bruno said that despite the calls, the upstate Republican's position has not changed.

Bruno and Silver have both argued that a final decision on building the stadium should be made after the International Olympic Committee votes on July 6 to pick a host city for the 2012 Games. Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow are in the mix.

But Betts, who met with IOC members during their evaluation visit to the city in February, insisted that without a stadium, there will be no Olympics.

"That's why there is such a big effort to break the logjam," Betts said.

"My argument to Speaker Silver is that if you don't think we can win, then just give us a shot. But we need that stadium. The stadium and the Olympics are the same," Betts said.

Wow, good for the President!

Good to see, help the city.

good news indeed

The decision to build the stadium needs to be made now. If they wait until after the vote, New York will not get the Olympics. As it is, the Jets need a new stadium. Whats the holdup?

Politics.


New York City is going to get this stadium, for sure.

From what I heard on local newscasts (including WCBS-TV), the crucial vote could happen as early as this coming Friday (June 3rd). Basically, if the lawsuits by Cablevision and other groups are heard and/or dismissed the day before, then you might get a final decision on this project by then once and for all.

Just a heads up... later this morning at 11:30 AM, watch Sunday Edition with Marcia Kramer (http://cbsnewyork.com/sunday/) on WCBS-TV. Sheldon Silver will be interviewed and talk more about this. I did see him on WABC-TV's Up Close with Diana Williams last month. He spoke about the West Side stadium at the time, just moments after New York Jets president Jay Cross was interviewed on that program.

Meantime, as much as the federal government is possibly getting involved in the approval process for the West Side stadium primarily for the Olympic bid, they should also do something in regards to the Ground Zero site. Pataki, Bloomberg and the LMDC are obviously not doing enough to move that rebuilding process along nor fully hear every proposal by a legitimate firm to date.

We shall see where both these projects go.

The vote on the stadium could come as early as tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Here's a rendering of the stadium during the Olympics...

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-02/16305402.jpg

so what do you guys think? do you think it will be built?

this is a go.

:D

Lets hope its not too late to sway the vote for 2012.

this is a go.

:D


so are you saying it got the ok?!?! :cheers: :cheers:

New York's Olympic stadium plan rejected
Fate of city's Olympic bid uncertain

Monday, June 6, 2005 Posted: 9:55 PM EDT (0155 GMT)



ALBANY, New York (AP) -- New York City's bid to host the 2012 Olympics was dealt a setback Monday when a powerful state board rejected a plan to build a $2 billion stadium in Manhattan.

The state financing board failed to approve $300 million in state money for the stadium. The plan needed the unanimous approval of the three-member board, and it received only one vote.

New York is competing with Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow for the 2012 Games. Earlier Monday, the International Olympic Committee released a report ranking Paris highest among the finalists and indicating that construction of the stadium is crucial to New York's chances.

"If we don't have a stadium, we cannot get the Olympics," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said hours before the vote, when it became clear the state funding plan did not have unanimous support.

The board's vote does not mean the city's bid is dead: The funding plan could still be renegotiated and brought back for reconsideration. But with the IOC scheduled to choose a host city July 6, time is running short on the protracted stadium negotiations.

The state's Public Authorities Control Board, which had the final say over the proposal for state funding for the stadium, was scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. to vote on the project. But hours earlier, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver -- who controls one of the three votes on the board -- announced that his representative would vote to reject the project if it came to a vote.

"This plan is at best, premature," Silver said. He said the West Side stadium project and related commercial development would hamper efforts to redevelop lower Manhattan in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Democrat represents lower Manhattan in the state Assembly.

"Am I to sell out the community I have fought for?" Silver asked.

Hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations followed Silver's announcement. When the issue finally came up for a vote, Silver's representative abstained, as did a representative of state Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. Only Republican Gov. George Pataki's representative voted in favor of the stadium funding.

Bloomberg had heavily lobbied Silver in recent days for support of the stadium, which would also be the home of football's New York Jets. He said Monday that he had made proposals that would ensure that downtown Manhattan receives the bulk of government incentives to attract new business.

"I had not been able to persuade him," the mayor said. "As for our Olympic bid, rejection of the stadium will seriously damage our chances."

He said he would talk with members of the U.S. Olympic Committee about how to proceed.

The developments in Albany came hours after the IOC released a report rating the finalist cities. Paris received the best overall review. London, Madrid and New York also got positive ratings, while long-shot Moscow came in for criticism.

The report cited strengths and weaknesses of each bid but did not rank the cities. It also indicated that construction of the stadium is crucial to New York's bid.

Boosters of New York's bid remained upbeat despite the higher praise for Paris, saying New York received good enough ratings to stay in the running.

"This really couldn't be any better," NYC2012 bid leader Dan Doctoroff said. "We're absolutely delighted by this report with just great reviews in every single category."

The stadium plan has been contentious from the start. Supporters, including Pataki and Bloomberg, have touted its economic development potential.

Detractors, including the owner of the neighboring Madison Square Garden, have questioned the process that would allow the Jets to buy the land, as well as the wisdom of spending large amounts of taxpayer dollars on a stadium.

The NFL has said the Jets can host the 2010 Super Bowl, but only if the team has the new stadium. The Jets currently play their home games in New Jersey, along with the New York Giants, at Giants Stadium. New York officials have said they fear that without a Manhattan stadium, the Jets will stay in New Jersey.

Why would these stupid gov. officials block the deal? Its not every day you can bring an NFL team to your state from a rival nearby state. If New York is worried about spending the money they don't need to worry, that $300 mill. would be made back in no time.

I am very disappointed by the decision. What angers me is how everything played out regardless of which side (supports and opponents) was right.

While I have had reservations on the tax costs and traffic impact of the stadium, it would've been a worthwhile project. The root of my anger stems from seeing these people on the verge of victory such as city council speaker Gifford Miller (who hopes to benefit politically), that smirking project opponent you've seen television at a number of protests in John Raskin and most of all...

CABLEVISION! This monopolistic empire spent tens of millions of dollars on anti-stadium advertisements on its cable systems while banning the airing of those ads that support the project. They are still airing on especially their own channels right now!

Their completely obvious reason for vehemently opposing the stadium was to protect their precious sports properties they've all but ruined. They've pissed off a number of companies that deal with them, especially the broadcasting industry. They do not deserve to win this even if I am against the project. As a matter of fact, hopefully there will be a backlash and/or boycott from consumers and the fans that support their teams. This is coming from someone that is a loyal Rangers fan.

I have been pissed off with how New York State governor George Pataki has handled the Ground Zero rebuilding process and jamming the Freedom Tower down our throats, I have been more understanding of his stance on the West Side stadium project. People will remember the name Sheldon Silver for decades to come if not only the stadium plan dies, so does the chances of the 2012 Olympics, bigger conventions, the 2010 Super Bowl, college sporting events and other special events.

Check out Jay Cross' statement. Interesting how he mentioned Cablevision.
Below are some news links you can check out since June 6th.

New York Jets official press releases (June 6):
Stadium plan rejected in Albany (http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/index.php?content_id=2008&sections_id=#2008)
Statement from New York Jets president Jay Cross (http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/index.php?content_id=2010&sections_id=#2010)


WCBS-TV (New York City)
For video clip reports, go to "video library" link on the home page.
Then type in the search box the titles you see below.

video clips:
"The West Side Stadium Plan Is Dead"
"How Bloomberg Reacted To The Death Of Stadium Plan"
"Mayor Bloomberg's Opponents Have Reason To Celebrate"
"A Backup Plan For The West Side Stadium?"

(June 6):
Overtime loss for West Side stadium supporters (http://cbsnewyork.com/topstories/topstoriesny_story_157123740.html)


WNBC-TV (New York City)
(June 6):
State Board rejects funding plan for Olympics stadium (http://www.wnbc.com/news/4570907/detail.html)


WABC-TV (New York City)
(June 6):
Bad news for the West Side stadium (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_060605_stadiumvotePM.html)

(June 7):
Bloomberg on Olympic bid: stadium no vote a blow to the city (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_060705_stadiumvoteNoon.html)


New York One (NY1) News
(June 6):
State Board rejects West Side stadium funding (http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=51342)

(June 7):
Mayor: stadium vote ruins city's chances to host 2012 Olympics (http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=51354)

(June 12):
City reportedly looking into building Olympic stadium in Queens (http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=10&aid=51445)


New York Times
(June 6):
New York State board reject plan to fund West Side stadium (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/nyregion/06cnd-stadium.html)

(June 7):
Olympic bid hurt as New York fails in West Side stadium quest (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/nyregion/07stadium.html)
Stadium failure is latest big project to fail in New York (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/nyregion/07york.html)
Stadium opponents "let down America," mayor says (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/nyregion/07cnd-mayor.html)
Contemplating a future with no West Side stadium (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/sports/othersports/07roberts.html)
IOC praises Paris' bid; New York's is in disarray (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/sports/othersports/07olympics.html)
A stand against the stadium (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/opinion/07tues3.html)

(June 8):
Requiem for New York stadium: overtures were made too late (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/nyregion/08stadium.html)
After stadium bid fails, a disheartened Bloomberg stews in defeat (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/nyregion/08mayor.html)
With empathy, Giants welcome Jets as partner (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/sports/football/08jets.html)
Cablevision wants to develop railyards (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/nyregion/08cablevision.html)

(June 10):
A new stadium (and no debate) (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/10/sports/baseball/10sandomir.html)


New York Daily News (June 7):
West Side Story: No way! (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/316683p-270913c.html)
Shelly Silver: Wrong, wrong, wrong (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/316500p-270800c.html)
West Side glory (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/col/story/316522p-270809c.html)
It was one vote he couldn't buy (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/316534p-270818c.html)
Some silver linings behind mayor's loss to Shelly (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/316678p-270917c.html)


New York Post (June 7):
West Side blues (http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/47781.htm)
Silver's wasteland (http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/47794.htm)
Silver & Bruno sack stadium (http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/47855.htm)


Long Island Newsday
(June 7):
Lawmakers say no to stadium (http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-ststad0607,0,4628682.story?coll=ny-top-headlines)
No West Side stadium? Fine (http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-sppow0607,0,2904008.column?coll=ny-top-headlines)

(June 8):
MTA ponders West Side future (http://www.newsday.com/business/nyc-bznext0608,0,2875365.story?coll=ny-top-headlines)
Bloomberg delivers stadium eulogy (http://www.newsday.com/business/nyc-bloom0608,0,5620902.story?coll=ny-top-headlines)
For Silver, WTC development a greater priority (http://www.newsday.com/business/nyc-ststad0608,0,5693405.story?coll=ny-top-headlines)
Olympic bid has outside chance (http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spnyc0608,0,6649793.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines)

(June 9):
Jets could team with Giants on Jersey stadium (http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spstad094296793jun09,0,3717340.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines)

(June 12):
Exit Jets, enter Mets: Olympics stadium in Queens? (http://www.newsday.com/sports/nyc-stad0612,0,3705239.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines)
11th-hour bid to save Olympics (http://www.newsday.com/sports/nyc-olym0613,0,2389940.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines)


Newark Star-Ledger
(June 7):
West Side stadium plans get sacked (http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-1/11181226886000.xml)

(June 12):
Giants, Jets must learn to share (http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/11185543163120.xml)


The Bergen Record (June 7):
Stadium funding rejection hurts chances (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMDkmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3MDQ3NDkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky)

The Journal News (June 7):
West Side stadium shot down (http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050607/SPORTS01/506070359/1045)

Washington Times (June 12):
Big Apple fails U.S. quest for the Games (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20050612-010251-7193r.htm)

the reality is this was never going to go through. Silver only cares for lower manhattan, but at the same time he doesnt realize that there is a lot more of development space available on the west side, as downtown is as developed as it can get. Bruno the other vote, wanted money for projects upstate, in return for him voting for yes. In both cases, none of these investments would reap a tenth of what the west side development could reap. It's kinda sad to see this happening, but this is the real reason why New York is going nowhere fast.

but isn;t this only the funding? its not like they rejected the whole stadium

could they recieve funding somewhere else? Such as selling bonds or something like that?

I don't think NYC has the capacity to foot the bill, as we are since the 70s beholden on Albany.


I will say this though, screw the stadium, for one reason a lone. This land could be used much more profitably for the whole city, than so it could benefit the Jets. Screw that.

The should really use this to revitalize the neighborhood by building something truly massive.

As for Silver, that guy is an idiot.

IMO enabling us to host the olympic games is profiting the city also

well the thing is, its in an area where no one will biuild. Its blocks and blocks and blocks away from the nearest train station, and its all mostly industrial buildings. The stadium was one of th eeasier ways of jump starting the area.

As for the funding, if a kind billionaire donated the 300 million needed, then yes the stadium could be funded, but the problem is no one is going to do it, for th esimple fact that theyll get flack from all the negators of the stadium.

I am sort of glad that both Sheldon Silver and Joe Bruno were against it. I don't think that this is worth any of our tax dollars. Also, I doubt that the Olympic bid will be lost solely just b/c of the stadium. However, I am not against it personally, I just think that the owner of the Jets should pay for it.

Regarding savethewtc's post on 3/27/05, looke like the current president's influence didn't pull much weight. Bush has the opposite of the midas touch. Everything he touches turns to sh#t. The more he campaigns for things he wants, like Social Security reform, the more the public rejects his dumb-ass ideas. IMO, he should have stayed out of this debate if he really wanted it to go through. I do believe that, in time, NYS would have made back its $300-million investement,but I also believe that the NYS taxpayers North and West of the Hudson River (remember them?) never really believed that they'd be reimbursed for their investment. I mean, come on, do you really believe that once the stadium started making money for NYC, that any of that money was going to funnel back up to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, etc? And since Albany represents the taxpayers upstate just as much as it represents taxpayers in NYC, it starts to make more sense why the State decided they could not invest that kind of money on a sports stadium. I know a lot of people downstate love to laugh about the decline in the rustbelt parts of their state, but I guess karma is a bitch.

http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_109/stadiumopponents.html
Volume 18, Number 3 | JUNE10 -16, 2005

Stadium opponents do sack dance over Silver vote

http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_109/escuelaantes.gif
Downtown Express photo by Elisabeth Robert
Stadium opponents

By Albert Amateau

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s rejection on June 6 of the proposed stadium over the West Side rail yards made him a hero to local elected officials and neighborhood activists fighting the project for nearly three years.

While Mayor Mike Bloomberg denounced Silver and his senate counterpart controlling a vote on the Public Authorities Control Board, State Senator Joe Bruno, as sabotaging New York City’s chances to host the 2012 Olympics, stadium opponents rejoiced at a June 7 rally on W. 35th St., a block away from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail yards where the stadium is proposed.

Elected officials at the rally – three of them aspiring mayoral candidates – and members of the Hell’s Kitchen/Hudson Yards Alliance said Silver did the right thing by rejecting a $2.2 billion New York Jets stadium to be built with city and state money.

Silver, Bruno and Gov. Pataki control the three votes of the P.A.C.B. and all must agree on measures involving state authorities like the M.T.A. On June 6, Pataki voted in favor of spending $300 million in state money for the stadium platform, but Silver and Bruno abstained, which was the equivalent of votes against the measure.

Silver had said he moved against the stadium because he could not turn his back on his Lower Manhattan district’s struggle to recover economically from the World Trade Center attack. He specifically denounced proposed stadium-funded incentives for West Side commercial development that he said would compete with Lower Manhattan.

But speakers at the June 7 rally faulted the stadium because of the threat of more traffic to West Side streets already choked with autos. They also said state and city money should go to affordable housing, schools, and better public transport before a football stadium.

“When we on the West Side fight City Hall, we win,” declared City Councilmember Christine Quinn. “A 85,000-seat stadium with no parking is a bad idea for a neighborhood that experiences gridlock almost every day,” she said.

All four of the mayor’s Democratic opponents are against the stadium and three of them attended the rally—Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Borough President Virginai Fields and U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner.

“Sanity has prevailed,” said Miller. “It seems as if we’ve had football fever that’s been causing some of us to act irrationally,” he said, referring to what he called Bloomberg’s obsession with a Jets stadium. He blamed Bloomberg for forcing the M.T.A. to sell development rights worth about $900 billion for only $250 million to the Jets. “The mayor should admit defeat and move forward to bring affordable housing and hotels here and find ways to increase the capacity of the Javits Convention Center.”

Weiner, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens, said “While you have been saying ‘not in my back yard,’ some of us in Queens have been saying build it in our back yard.”

Earlier last week, the International Olympics Committee report on cities vying for the 2012 Olympics, indicated that the Paris proposal was nearly perfect. The New York proposal, the report said, was good but deficient in its the lack of commitment to a stadium. The report also raised other questions about the New York City bid, one concerning the proposed Olympic Village in Queens to house athletes and another, the lack of financial guarantees.

Just before the June 6 P.A.C.B. vote in Albany, Silver told reporters he wouldn’t reconsider the stadium even if New York City were chosen for the Olympics.

Walter Mankoff, chairperson of Community Board 4, said at the June 7 rally that he hoped the P.A.C.B. vote would end the West Side stadium issue. “If the mayor had had a plan B for the stadium we wouldn’t be in the situation we are in now. I hope they can develop an alternative plan for an Olympic stadium,” Mankoff said.

While the stadium is still a possibility, its chances now of being built are remote.

Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association, in a prepared statement also commended Silver and Bruno on their rejection of the stadium.

“While it would certainly have been easier to make a deal, the speaker stood by his principles and recognized the stadium as a bad project for New York,” Yaro said. “We must move forward with an ambitious economic strategy for New York City, beginning in Lower Manhattan and expanding to the Far West Side when Ground Zero is rebuilt.”

Albert@DowntownExpress.com

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/letters/45185.htm
GLAD IT'S GONE: SCORN FOR THE STADIUM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 12, 2005 -- THE ISSUE: Mayor Bloomberg's plans for a West Side stadium are derailed.
I am one of the many who are glad that the West Side stadium plan has been killed ("Silver's Wasteland," Editorial, June 7).

Why should upstaters, especially here in western New York, be asked to cough up money to fund the Jets' proposed new playpen?

Why can't New York do what Indiana did? There, when the Indianapolis Colts decided they wanted a new stadium, they put up part of the funds themselves — the rest is coming through legalized slot machines and casino gambling.
Lloyd Marshall
Lockport

If Mayor Bloomberg had put the stadium up for a vote, it would have been soundly defeated.

This was a scam from day one.

Bloomberg and his wealthy buddies were lying to all New Yorkers.

Doesn't anyone remember the Jets' initial offer for the property — hundreds of millions less than what it was actually worth.

And the bidding process was initially closed.

These guys are crooks.

No one wanted the stadium or the Olympics except Bloomberg and his cronies.
Peter Sulzicki
Stratford, Conn.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno were correct to oppose a stadium for the West Side of Manhattan.

Although The Post says that development of the West Side is what the stadium debate was all about, that's incorrect.

The stadium debate is about a tremendous amount of public money being spent on an inappropriate project.

Real, intelligent development of the West Side will create a new, vibrant New York neighborhood — home, parks, restaurants, theatres, concert halls, etc.
Christopher Davis
Manhattan

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/318059p-272064c.html
Voice of the People

Big deal
Bronx: Who cares where the Jets play? I can't afford to go to a game anyway.

Luis A. Laboy

Killjoy
Brooklyn: I'm disappointed that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver rejected the West Side stadium. It would have provided much-needed revenue for the city and state. I guess Silver doesn't care about revenue, he doesn't care about the Olympics and he doesn't care about all the people who would have had jobs.

Trevlond Myrie

Better without it
Greensboro, N.C.: The people of the city were the clear winners in the stadium's defeat. I travel into town weekly and know firsthand what it was like to come into Penn Station during the GOP convention. I can't imagine what the city (especially the West Side near the Lincoln Tunnel) would look like with the Olympics. Mr. Silver saved the day, and the taxpayers a lot of money and stress.

Joe Grigelevich

Put it in Queens
Hicksville, L.I.: If we lose the 2012 Olympics, it will be on the shoulders of Mayor Bloomberg, who refused to look at any other venue. It's time for him to stop stamping his feet like a spoiled child and begin looking at Flushing for a stadium.

Deborah Shin

Silver saved us
Staten Island: Thank God someone stood up to the billionaire boys' club and knocked down that stadium plan. Someone finally realized that the traffic would be murder and a complete disaster come football Sunday and any other event that would attract 80,000 people.

John Pasquali

An update...

Definitely check out the latest news regarding the Olympic stadium alternative plan.
It doesn't involve the New York Jets, but instead the New York Mets.

It appears that a deal now might be worked out as it tentatively was by former mayor Rudolph Giuliani to get new stadiums built for the Mets and New York Yankees. But in this case, it's a bit different. While the Yankees' plan to use primarily their own money for theirs, an alternative plan is being considered to have a temporary venue for the Olympics in Queens. Then a new stadium would be built for the Mets (who would also pay to build their future home).

Where do the Jets go from here? Either their pursuit for the West Side site continues or they join the New York Giants in a potential new stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. At this point, they don't have an interest to move back to Queens.

You can see a video clip of Sunday night's press conference using a broadband internet connection by the NYC.gov link below.


New York City's official government site (NYC.gov)
(June 12):
Mayor Bloomberg makes announcement about New York City's Olympic bid (http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2005a/media/pc061205-olympics300k.asx) (multimedia file)

New York Mets official site's news section (June 12):
New Mets ballpark part of Olympics bid (http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050612&content_id=1087912&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym)

WCBS-TV (New York City)
(June 13):
New hope for 2012 Olympics in New York (http://cbsnewyork.com/topstories/topstoriesny_story_164075737.html)

WNBC-TV (New York City)
(June 13):
New York to use new Mets stadium to salvage Olympic bid (http://www.wnbc.com/sports/4600440/detail.html)

WABC-TV (New York City)
(June 13):
Mayor Mike's Olympic bid - plan B (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_061305_nyc2012OlympicsNOON.html)


New York One (NY1) News
(June 9):
Supporters rally to revive West Side stadium proposal (http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=51394)

(June 12):
New stadium for Mets is centerpiece of revised Olympic bid (http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=51455)

(June 13):
Bronx Week: residents near Yankee Stadium have other priorities than new ball park (http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=51463)


New York Daily News (June 13):
Oly cow! Plan B (http://nydailynews.com/front/story/318568p-272430c.html)
Amazin' discovery: Mike meets the Mets (http://nydailynews.com/front/story/318562p-272446c.html)

New York Post (June 13):
City's Olympic plan B bared (http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/45356.htm)

New York Times (June 13):
2012 Olympic bid survives as Mets commit to stadium deal (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/sports/othersports/13stadium.html)
The Mets finally get their new stadium, but they have to pay for it (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/sports/baseball/13shea.html)
Suddenly, mayor sees sparkle in Queens (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/sports/othersports/13sider.html)
If all goes as planned... (http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2005/06/12/sports/20050613_STADIUM_GRAPHIC.html) (graphic file)
Stadium in hand, New York moves to strengthen Olympic bid (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/sports/13cnd-stadium.html)

Long Island Newsday (June 13):
A whole new ballgame (http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-nyolym134302706jun13,0,2040981.story?coll=ny-homepage-mezz)
Olympic stadium Q&A's (http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/nyc-qanda0613,0,6702042.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines)

The Journal News (June 13):
New Mets stadium in bid for Olympics (http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050613/SPORTS01/506130347/1035)

So I guess this proposal is dead now.
I wonder what would happen of the yards? Would they give it back to the MTA and would they sell it to Cablevision for their residential projects? Or now that the stadium and the Javits center expansion is dead, would they just not care about the plans?

http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_110/letterstotheeditor.html
Volume 18 • Issue 4 | JUNE 17-23, 20
Stadium sense

To The Editor:
I am glad that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senator Joe Bruno have both agreed to say no to the West Side Stadium ( news article, June 10 – 16, “Stadium opponents do sack dance over Silver vote”). I don't think that it's right for both the city and state of New York to spend nearly a billion dollars in taxes to build a football stadium on the West Side that we will never own. Why can't the owner of the Jets just pay for it? Also, I doubt that the International Olympic Committee will not let New York City have the Olympics solely because that stadium was cancelled.

With 2.2 billion in tax dollars, that money can be used for more important things such as helping the schools, improving parks, reopening fire and police departments that shut down, fixing highways and tunnels that are long overdue, and building affordable housing for those who don't have a lot of money.

Another important thing that this money can be used for is rebuilding the Twin Towers, which is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This is a public building and our taxes paid for their original construction. I am sure that if people had a choice to use that money for rebuilding the Twin Towers or having a West Side Stadium, then I am sure that many would choose the former over the latter at all costs, because they know that the towers are something we would own unlike the stadium.

Tal Barzilai
Pleasantville, N.Y.

It would have been cool to have had three new stadiums (Yankees, Mets, and Jets) all open up in NYC. I hope they still try and get the Jets back to New York were they belong before New Jersey keeps them for good.

There's an article in the Times today. The Jets are still trying.

As a New Yorker, no offense, but I hope it fails. I don't like the idea of my tax dollars being spent on a facility that offers no benefit in any form whatsoever to my neck of the woods. This is Albany's problem, over and over again. You want the stadium, get some more private investors down there to pony up some more money. God only knows there's enough of them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/24/nyregion/24stadium.html?pagewanted=all
Jets Hang on to Stadium Dream

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: June 24, 2005

Nearly three weeks after the Jets' plan for a Manhattan football stadium died in Albany, an appeals court yesterday upheld the team's deal to buy the development rights over the West Side railyard for $250 million.

The Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court rejected a challenge by Madison Square Garden, the most vehement and well-heeled opponent of the stadium, ruling that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority made a rational decision to sell the rights to the Jets, and that the M.T.A. was not obligated to accept the offer from the Garden simply because it would have paid more money.

The decision might seem to be a hollow victory for the Jets, considering the June 6 decision in Albany that blocked state subsidies for the project. In revising its 2012 Olympics bid, the city has already moved past the proposed Jets stadium to plans for a new and far less contentious stadium in Queens for the Mets.

But the Jets and their most vociferous supporters in the construction industry have refused to throw in the towel on the West Side project. While many people at City Hall refer to the planned stadium in the past tense, the team and its supporters are exploring ways of raising $300 million to offset the money that the state refused to supply.

At a June 10 luncheon for the team's supporters in the construction unions at Shelly's New York restaurant in Midtown, Matt Higgins, a Jets vice president, sent a clear message: "We're not giving up," according to two union officials who were there. Much of the discussion revolved around raising money and assessing the chances of getting the City Council to rezone the railyard for a stadium, they said.

"If they get the site, we'll take another shot at this next year," said Stephen McInnis, political director for the carpenters union.

Both the unions and building contractors are looking at whether they could invest pension fund money in the stadium project if the Jets go forward, according to Mr. McInnis, as well as Louis J. Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers' Association and Vincent F. Pitta, a lawyer for several large unions in the city.

"There'll be thousands of jobs, and it'll be a huge injection into the economy," Mr. Pitta said.

The Jets were willing to invest a record-setting amount of money-about $1.6 billion - in what would be the most expensive stadium in the world. The project would also have required a $600 million investment by the city and the state, which would have been the largest public subsidy ever for a stadium.

But Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, has already spent more than $63 million and five years on plans to build a stadium in Manhattan. Next month, the team's intentions will become clear when the M.T.A. is expected to ask the team to sign a contract to buy the property. If the Jets want to preserve their right to build on the site, the team will then have to make a $50 million down payment to the agency and prepare to complete the transaction in early 2006. Otherwise the team will have to walk away from the agreement.

Peter S. Kalikow, the M.T.A. chairman, said the agency would review the matter in a closed session of its board next week.

But political uncertainties abound. There are several outstanding lawsuits challenging the project, and after the November city election the team may have fewer supporters on the City Council than it does now. Madison Square Garden and its parent, Cablevision, which declined to comment on the appellate court ruling, have no plans to go away.

In the meantime, the Jets are also talking to New Jersey officials and the Giants about a new stadium for both teams in the Meadowlands that would cost far less than the Manhattan proposal, requiring an estimated $400 million to $500 million each from the Jets and the Giants. One Jets supporter acknowledged that talk of a simmering New York option also gives the team leverage in its negotiations with New Jersey.

Jets staying in NJ....

NY Times

New Jersey Likes Jet Proposal to Share Giants Stadium

By LAURA MANSNERUS
Published: August 12, 2005

TRENTON, Aug. 11 - New Jersey officials on Thursday applauded a proposal for a huge new football stadium in the Meadowlands sports complex to house the Giants and the Jets, urging the teams to consider a retractable dome that would allow bigger events, including the Super Bowl, at the site.

The Jets, apparently intent on staying in New Jersey, presented an ambitious plan on Wednesday that would expand the $800 million stadium that the Giants proposed just four months ago when the Jets were still planning a move to the West Side of Manhattan.

Under the Jets proposal, given to the Giants and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and first reported in The Star-Ledger, the two teams would evenly split the cost of a 90,000-seat stadium, said L. Jay Cross, the Jets president. It suggests changes in the site plan that would connect the stadium more closely with the Xanadu retail and entertainment complex now rising on the other side of the Meadowlands.

If built, the new stadium would be the second-largest in the National Football League, behind the Washington Redskins' home, the 92,000-seat FedEx Field stadium, which is also considered the league's most profitable.

The sports authority president, George R. Zoffinger, said in a statement that with the new megastadium, the Meadowlands "will be transformed into the most attractive sports and entertainment destination in the country."

If the stadium has a retractable dome, Mr. Zoffinger said in an interview, "you get Super Bowl, the Final Four, political conventions, all the things that can stimulate the New Jersey economy."

"It's not in the proposal, but it's something we're going to push for," Mr. Zoffinger said. "This is the one opportunity in the next 50 years to get it right."

The Jets are hesitant, however. "If the state wants to explore funding a retractable roof, we will consider it," said Matthew Higgins, a team vice president.

For now, the team, which has been playing in the Meadowlands since 1984, has not ruled out a move to New York. Mr. Cross said team officials had accepted an invitation from the Queens borough president, Helen Marshall, to look at a site at Willets Point.

The Giants' chief executive, John Mara, declined to discuss the proposal. "We've been in discussions with the Jets for quite a while now," he said, "and our agreement with them is that we would keep these discussions private."

The Jets and Giants have been negotiating since the Jets' plan to move to the West Side of Manhattan fell through in June. While the Giants had always wanted the Jets to remain in New Jersey as a partner in the privately financed new stadium, the prospect has complicated talks involving the Giants, the Sports Authority and the Xanadu developers.

The sports complex's future has been rewritten many times in the last few years, and James E. McGreevey, then the governor, charged the sports authority with getting the state out of the sports business. To revitalize the site, on prime real estate within sight of Manhattan, the authority approved the five-million-square-foot Xanadu project, surrounding the Continental Airlines Arena, home of the New Jersey Nets and the New Jersey Devils.

The Giants' plans for a new stadium raised even more questions, now under negotiation, about how the sports complex would accommodate the construction and the additional traffic generated by Xanadu.

Mr. Cross said the Jets proposal would retain the 75,000 seats now available in general seating at the Giants Stadium, expand luxury suites and add 8,000 club seats, while there are only a handful now. He said he had no estimate of the total cost.

Brian McCarthy, a spokesman for the football league, said it would contribute $150 million to construction costs, provided the stadium meets certain criteria, but that is the maximum even if two teams play there.

What a shame. While I am not a Jets fan, it would have been nice to see a team with the New York name actually play in the city, even the state.

Nobody actually oppossed the stadium, it's just that they didn't want to use their tax dollars to pay for it when it is a private business that should pay for itself.

http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/article.cms?article_id=23491&arc=n
Convention center push on W. Side

City wants to build more meeting space above rail yard; changes for Javits?

By Anne Michaud
Published on August 15, 2005


in the strongest signal of where the Bloomberg administration's West Side development plans are headed, Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff says that building sorely needed convention space there is the city's top priority.

The 13-acre West Side rail yard site is the last large tract of Manhattan land that City Hall can use to build for its economic future, Mr. Doctoroff said last week. His comments were made to Crain's in his most expansive interview since the failure of his efforts to build a West Side football stadium and win the 2012 Summer Olympics.

"It is a major, attractive site and one of our few opportunities to make a major statement about New York," he said. "I know we need to fill in that hole" by building a platform over the train tracks.

The deputy mayor also ticked off a dozen other projects he is pursuing, though it appears he will be able to cross one off the list: keeping Goldman Sachs downtown. The investment bank had abandoned plans to build its new headquarters across from the former World Trade Center site, citing frustration with the state's traffic and security plans.

Since the spring, city and state officials have been lobbying Goldman intensely. The company's decision to build its new headquarters near Ground Zero is reviving hope that lower Manhattan will regain primacy as a world financial capital.

City needs gathering hall

On the west side, a northward expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is already under way. Javits, which opened in 1986, lags behind as the country's 18th-largest convention facility, which means the city loses out on millions of business tourism dollars. State legislators approved a $1.4 billion addition last December, and center officials are interviewing architects.

Even with the expansion, Mr. Doctoroff says, New York will be unable to offer some convention services that could have been provided by the proposed Jets stadium, formally called the New York Sports and Convention Center. The city needs a large gathering hall, or plenary center, as well as self-contained spaces for small to midsize conventions.

"We'll always be happy with more convention space or plenary space," says Robert Boyle, who sits on the Javits development and operating boards. "The city can always use it."

But state development czar Charles Gargano, whose agency is in charge of the Javits expansion, refuses to change any of the current plans to build northward. "I have no objection to expanding south, but we're certainly not going to change the plan now to expand to the north," he says. "It's fine to showboat, but they have to tell me how we would pay for it." The Jets would have brought a $1 billion investment to the table, he adds.

However, pressure could mount on city and state officials to rethink the Javits plan, with the stadium deal dead and rail yards to the south available for development. Mr. Doctoroff didn't go that far in his statements last week.

Insiders say that while the stadium plan was alive, Mr. Doctoroff had been discouraging alternative designs by city planners. But now at City Hall, there is talk of closing West 34th Street to traffic in order to connect the Javits Center with the southern parcel.

The Hell's Kitchen Neighborhood Association has long championed the creation of convention space above the rail yards, and developer Douglas Durst recently said he would like to build it. The city evaluated the $1.8 billion convention center proposal, which would add 450,000 square feet of convention space, in its environmental impact statement, along with the Jets' plan.

Moving on to other projects

"It could be a plan b if the city looked at it that way," says Dan Gutman, a neighborhood resident who came up with the idea.

One barrier to any plan has been Mr. Doctoroff's quarrel with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority over the property's value. But he said last week that generating revenue for the MTA, which owns the rail yards, is a top consideration.

The controversial deputy mayor, who critics say allowed his single-minded focus on the Olympics to crowd out other development plans, gave the impression of buckling down to carry out administration projects: constructing a bioscience center on the East Side, rezoning the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area in Brooklyn, remaking the abandoned High Line on the West Side into a walking trail, extending the No. 7 subway line west of Times Square, completing new stadiums for the Mets and the Yankees, developing downtown Flushing in Queens and overseeing plans for a Nets arena-office-residential complex in downtown Brooklyn.

Since the city lost its Olympic bid in July, insiders have speculated that Mr. Doctoroff would step down as deputy mayor. But answering the question last week, he said, "I love working for the mayor and his historically ambitious agenda. I'm very proud to continue."

Of course, his situation could change after November's election.

©2005 Crain Communications Inc.

Interesting idea by the Jets, I'm for it over playing Jersey. What would suck is the planes flying over, if you ever been to Shea, you know how it is.

NY POST

JETS EYE LANDING AT '64 WORLD'S FAIR SITE

http://www.nypost.com/photos/news08182005002.jpg
Fountain of the Planets.

By JEREMY OLSHAN

August 18, 2005 -- In a desperate play to escape lifetime exile in New Jersey, the Jets are huddling with the city to hammer out plans to build a new stadium over the remains of a massive fountain from the 1964 World's Fair.

The six-acre Fountain of the Planets, which once exploded in glorious pyrotechnic displays, is now a murky pool littered with plastic bottles and trash.

With the West Side stadium plan dead, and a deal for a shared stadium with the Giants at New Jersey's Meadowlands weeks away, team sources say the fountain site probably is the last, best hope to put the New York back in New York Jets.

Team president Jay Cross accepted an invitation to meet with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall next week to discuss the plan.

As talk of staying in New Jersey intensifies, fans have besieged team officials with e-mails, pleading with them to find another way.

"It's conceivable a plan could be worked out in time," said Matthew Higgins, team vice president. "But it's going to require a great deal of urgency."

Located on the eastern end of Flushing Meadows, right off the Van Wyck Expressway, the proposed open-air stadium would be within field goal range of the Unisphere, Shea Stadium and the National Tennis Center.

The walk to parking lots and mass transit would be substantially longer than from Shea, and the Jets would once again be in the flight path of La Guardia's planes.

Marshall said she's willing to give the team the parkland, as long as the Jets agree to replace the lost acreage, which would likely include several new soccer fields as well as the fountain.

"She'd also expect new amenities to be added to the park, and others to be improved," spokesman Dan Andrews said.

Willets Point, the 47 acres of salvage yards near Shea — where many expected the Jets to look — is not workable, teams sources say, because the city would not have enough time to relocate the 150 business there and complete the necessary environmental work.

But some Queens activists, even longtime proponents of bringing the Jets home, disagree.

Although he railed against the West Side stadium in favor of Willets Point, David Oats, chairman of the Queens Olympic Committee, said the Jets new plan is equally unworkable.

"We're immensely outraged that the plan to return the Jets does not include a renewal of Willets Point and instead calls for destroying an historic and beautiful area," Oats said.

New York Times
September 28, 2005

New Stadium for Giants and Jets Hits Snags

By CHARLES V. BAGLI

The chances of the Giants and the Jets making football history by building a two-team stadium in the Meadowlands dimmed this week, with the teams at odds over everything from the shape of the stadium to the amount of retail space at the proposed complex.

Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, and executives of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority - who have given the Giants and the Jets until tomorrow to form a partnership for the stadium - have also grown increasingly frustrated with the Jets.

The Jets announced last week that they were simultaneously pursuing plans for a $1.35 billion stadium in a park in Queens, much to the embarrassment of New Jersey officials, who had said publicly that the team had assured them that it was committed to a new stadium in the Meadowlands.

Then, on Monday, L. Jay Cross, the Jets' president, sent the sports authority a long list of "preconditions" to both a joint venture with the Giants and an irrevocable agreement with the authority to remain in New Jersey. The Jets want to renegotiate a memorandum of understanding between the Giants and the state that makes the Jets an equal partner, according to executives involved in the discussions.

More important, the team is putting forward a number of demands that place it in direct conflict with not only the Giants and the sports authority but also with Xanadu, the $2 billion retail and entertainment complex that would share the property, the executives and team officials said.

Until these issues are resolved, Mr. Cross indicated that the team would continue to press forward with plans for a Queens stadium.

New Jersey officials were meeting last night with the Giants to determine their approach to the growing impasse. The sports authority could decide to compromise, or strike a deal solely with the Giants, leaving the Jets to hope for a stadium in Queens, or as a tenant in Giants Stadium.

"We think we've made a very fair proposal to the Jets," said John K. Mara, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Giants, shortly before meeting with state officials yesterday.

It has long been clear that Governor Codey wants a stadium deal before he leaves office. He approved an agreement that would provide the Giants and possibly the Jets with generous terms, including the right to develop 75 acres, up from the 29 acres now used by the teams.

The Jets have sought to buy time to line up their alternative in Queens, where their plans have gained the support of many elected officials. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who led the Jets' failed effort to build a stadium in Manhattan, has been reluctant to take a stand on the plan until after until after? Election Day.

But many civic groups in Queens are vowing to fight the plan, which would place the stadium on 15 acres in the middle of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, southeast of Shea Stadium. Civic leaders say that a project of that size would probably use even more land, and that the 18-story stadium would dominate the park.

"It's going to be a fight," said Patricia Dolan, president of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy, which opposes the stadium. "They don't need this misery when they have a very lively alternative, in New Jersey"

In the Meadowlands, the Giants have proposed an 80,000-seat stadium that places all the premium seats and luxury boxes on the west side of the building. The Jets have proposed a 90,000-seat stadium that spreads the higher-priced seating throughout the stadium. The Jets also want the Giants to move their practice fields and offices away from the stadium, so that the area is "team-neutral." They have asked the state to provide two 28-acre sites within a 30-minute drive of the Meadowlands.

The Jets now say they are willing to compromise on the size of the stadium, but they want the Giants to scrap their plans and adopt the Jets' seating bowl and form a joint design team that would be headed by a Jets vice president, Bill Senn, an architect.

The Jets also want to build a 500-room hotel and expand the amount of retail space from 150,000 square feet to 600,000 square feet, two elements that would compete with Xanadu.

Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company

Jets are now not moving to NYC, they have an agreement to share a new stadium with the Giants:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/29/sports/football/29cnd-stadium.html?hp&ex=1128052800&en=04f41dfec5bac339&ei=5094&partner=homepage

I just don't see why the city of New York wasn't bending over backwards to get the Jets to move to the city. This is an NFL team! They won't get another chance at this for another 30 years now.