Opponents Voice Concerns Over Hawks’ Stadium

A proposal to tear down the Kingdome and build a new Seattle Seahawks stadium drew bitter reaction Monday from rental car agencies and licensed sports memorabilia dealers, whose customers would pay a big chunk of the $402 million cost through taxes.

But backers of Gov. Gary Locke’s plan to finance a new stadium and keep the Seahawks in Seattle also were out in force for House and Senate committee hearings on the proposal.

The prime House backer, Rep. Steve Van Luven, R-Bellevue, acknowledged that many of his colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, were as skeptical as ever about the plan promoted by software magnate Paul Allen.

“If we can do this for football, why can’t we do this for schools?” asked Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Sedro Woolley, during one of two House hearings. “Aren’t hungry children more important than football?” added Rep. Velma Veloria, D-Seattle.

But Van Luven and the chief Senate backer, Republican Alex Deccio of Yakima, were optimistic they could persuade their colleagues to step forward to keep the Seahawks in Seattle.

Allen has an option to buy the Seahawks, but wants state financial help to build a new stadium to replace the Kingdome. Allen has pledged more than $100 million for the stadium, about 25 percent of the cost.

Allen and his Football Northwest “lost today on the bill, but I’d say they gained on the issue,” Van Luven said, noting it is time to find a way to do something.