Stadium Foes Say Ad’s Claims False $425 Million Cost Of Project Called Inaccurate

Opponents of a new stadium filed a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission this week alleging false claims have been put in the newspapers and on the air to push a proposed $425 million project.

Critics say the cost of the project touted in campaign ads doesn’t reflect interest costs.

Stadium opponents also argue radio and newspaper ads paint an overly dire picture of repairs needed at Seattle’s Kingdome.

Voters will consider the stadium proposal in a statewide election June 17. The plan is backed by billionaire Paul Allen, who says he will buy the Seattle Seahawks if a new stadium is built for the team in Seattle.

The project includes an open-air, natural grass stadium for football and soccer, a new exhibition hall, and parking. Allen would pay $100 million toward the cost of the stadium.

The PDC acknowledged receipt of the complaint filed Tuesday afternoon. But the commission might not be able to act until after the campaign is over, said Melissa Warheit, executive director.

To be in violation of state law, sponsors of the ads would have had to knowingly distort the truth, and do so with malice.

“It’s a pretty high standard,” Warheit said.

Backers of the stadium say the ads are correct, but they did concede one point.

A radio ad that says the Kingdome should be replaced says property taxes would be needed to pay for more repairs to the Kingdome if the new stadium isn’t built.

That may be true in King County. But Eastern Washington taxpayers would not be tapped to pay for Kingdome repair costs, said Susan Oxholm, deputy press secretary for the Our Team Works campaign.

As for the cost of the project, it is $425 million in 1997 dollars, with any cost overruns borne by Paul Allen.

Interest costs do have to be paid by state taxpayers, because $300 million of the project is paid for with state general obligation bonds.

But supporters don’t think that should be figured into the cost. When a house is marketed, potential buyers consider the sale price, not the total cost including interest, said Wes Uhlman, a former mayor of Seattle who’s stumping for the stadium.

“It’s a silly argument, really,” said Uhlman. “They are just trying to get as much free publicity as they possibly can.”

Stadium opponents also took issue with a headline in a full-page newspaper ad. The headline said “Remember the Day the Kingdome roof fell in?”

That’s a gross exaggeration, stadium opponents say. “I remember the day a few tiles fell in. I don’t remember the whole roof crashing down,” said Rep. Tim Sheldon, D-Hoodsport, who led the opposition campaign in Olympia against the stadium.

Ceiling tiles cascaded from the Kingdome’s interior right behind home plate before a baseball game in July 1994. Round-the-clock repairs and associated costs topped $70 million.

“That was no minor repair,” Uhlman said.

, DataTimes MEMO: These 2 sidebars appeared with the story:

1. ‘DEBATE CHALLENGE’ The ad: “Paul Allen Debate Challenge,” a 60-second radio ad sponsored by the Stop Stadium Madness Coalition. It says billionaire Paul Allen should debate stadium opponents and “answer some of your nagging questions … like why do we pay so much and a billionaire so little for his private stadium?” Background: The coalition is a loose network of stadium opponents, including Priorities First in Spokane; CLEAN, a statewide good-government group; the Libertarian Party of Washington; and Northwest Lodging, a group of hotel operators. Opponents’ reaction: Our Team Works says the ad distorts financial information and glosses over benefits of the new stadium and exhibition facility to the region. Campaign response: They say the stadium costs more than $600 million, not $425 million, if interest costs on the $300 million bond issue to build the project are included. They also say the Kingdome should not be demolished and tax money should be spent on more important things. Analysis: The ad uses Allen’s wealth to create resentment. Other statements in the ad, such as the stadium forcing fans to sit in winter rains, are exaggerated. The football stadium design includes a roof to cover 70 percent of the stands.

2. ‘KINGDOME’ The ad: “Kingdome,” a 60-second radio ad sponsored by Our Team Works, tells listeners the Kingdome needs to be replaced because it’s a drain on taxpayers. Background: Our Team Works is the campaign organization formed by Football Northwest, Allen’s company. Opponents’ reaction: Members of the Stop Stadium Madness Coalition say the ad is misleading because it states property tax dollars will be needed to pay for Kingdome repairs if the new stadium isn’t approved. In fact, Spokane property taxes would not go for repairs to the Kingdome in any scenario. And the repairs are paid for out of the King County general expense fund, which is made up only partly of property taxes. Campaign response: Our Team Works concedes that Spokane property taxes will not go toward Kingdome repairs no matter what happens. But the group says higher property taxes in King County are at least a possible scenario if the new stadium is defeated and more costly repairs are required at the Kingdome. Analysis: The ad presents an overly bleak future for the Kingdome. While it is true the building has required costly repairs, if the football stadium proposal fails King County officials will have several options to pay for further repairs and retire debt for work done so far. Those options could include some of the revenue sources now proposed to be tapped for the new stadium.