Young Demos Hear Debate Of Stadium Plan Opponent Says State Has Other Priorities, Criticizes Player Salaries

The debate over a new football stadium for the Seattle Seahawks moved to Eastern Washington on Saturday.

Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen is proposing a statewide vote to decide if tax dollars should be spent on a new stadium for the Seahawks. Allen says he will give up his option to purchase the team from Ken Behring if a new stadium is not approved.

“If people don’t want the team and the vote is lost, he (Allen) will give up his option and our Seahawks will be moved to California,” said Karen Marchioro, a political consultant who works for Allen’s group.

In remarks to the Young Democrats of Washington convention, Marchioro also said the aging Kingdome will require huge sums for renovation in coming years.

“In the long run, it is a better deal for us to tear the Kingdome down and build a new facility,” she said.

But stadium opponent Chris Van Dyk, representing Citizens For More Important Things, told the young Democrats that a new football stadium is not a priority.

“There are more important things to be spending money on, in Eastern Washington, than stadiums in King County,” Van Dyk said.

He also blamed huge player salaries for forcing the need for new stadiums that can generate higher revenues.

“You have $5 million linebackers, or the Ken Griffeys of the world,” he said.

Allen is proposing to contribute $100 million toward the $425 million stadium. He also is offering to pay for a special election to allow state residents to vote on whether to spend tax dollars on the project. The state taxes would fall heavily on sales of sports memorabilia, lottery tickets and other sports-related business.

The stadium proposal squeaked through the state Senate 25-23 on Wednesday.

The current plan is to send the bill next Thursday to the House Capital Facilities Committee, which reviews construction and bonding proposals. That would mean a vote no sooner than late in the week.