Aloha Stadium may be transferred to UH control

About how UH does not want to be responsible for repair, maintenance and capital improvement costs of the stadium, Linda Johnsrud, UH VP for academic planning, said:
"It's not economically feasible, and in fact, would be a detriment to the university." (HA)

HA Note: "Nine years after then-University of Hawai'i Warriors football coach June Jones suggested it, the state Legislature is again considering transferring control of Aloha Stadium to UH in an effort to raise more money for the athletic department. The proposal contained in House Bill 2429 cleared three House committees yesterday but faces an uphill climb after a state agency, the Stadium Authority, two unions and even the University of Hawai'i expressed concerns. Some of these concerns, such as the security of civil service positions at the stadium, will be addressed in the amendment moving to the House Finance Committee. Other concerns, particularly who would end up responsible for a backlog of repairs and much-needed refurbishment, are still up for discussion.

About how the state should take care of the upkeep of the stadium and then turn it over to UH, Tony Guerrero, chairman of Koa Anuenue, said:
"I think we all appreciate what happened in the last season. In order to continue success, we need better revenue sources." (HA)

HA Note: "Guerrero, a vice chairman at First Hawaiian Bank, said that in order to use the stadium to raise revenue, it needs to be run less like a government entity and more like a business. He pointed out that transferring management to the university would not mean that the stadium could no longer be used for high school sports, carnivals, concerts and the swap meet, one of the many issues raised during the hearing."

When telling lawmakers that only 13% of the stadium's $9.4 mil in revenue comes from UH events, Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan said:
"Aloha Stadium doesn't merely service the University of Hawai'i." (HA)

HA Note: "Stadium officials said about 60 percent of the stadium's revenue comes from the swap meet, and trying to increase revenue in that area by raising rates could have the unintended effect of driving vendors out."

About how he believes it would be more effective to give money directly to UH instead of drawing attention away from the stadium's need for repairs and a complete refurbishment for all users, state Comptroller Russ Saito said:
"This bill attempts to channel money to the UH program but offers no compelling reason why it should do so." (HA)

HA Note: "Rep. K. Mark Takai, D-34th (Newtown, Waiau, Pearl City), who supports the proposal, said he was glad that the issue was finally back on the table. Jones first suggested the proposal during his first year, 1999, yet it has only had a hearing once, Takai said. According to Takai, seven of the 12 schools invited to the BCS games could raise twice the revenue of UH, and he suggested that stadium management could be tailored to capitalize on the football team's success.

About how stadium management could be tailored to capitalize on the success of UH's football team, Takai said:
"It could be win-win-win all around. We just need to expand the box a little bit." (HA)

HA Note: "While only Rep. Barbara Marumoto, R-19th (Wai'alae Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala), voted against the bill, several House members voiced strong reservations. Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-50th (Kailua, Kane'ohe Bay), for instance, asked whether giving UH the stadium would help, or just saddle the university with more debt and a bigger headache."

About an alternative plan, Rep. Hermina Morita said:
"It might not be necessary to dismember the authority, but just change the rules under which they operate." (HA)