[quote]Jets persevere on stadium, with help from unexpected quarters
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BY PRADNYA JOSHI
STAFF WRITER
The New York Jets are still keeping their drive for a new stadium alive and are getting unsolicited offers to help with their financing, a project developer and supporter said.
An international steel company, the city's real-estate developers and even union pension funds are weighing being investors in the $2.2-billion project, which also could be used for expanded convention center space and rented out for other special events.
Despite being turned down by a crucial state board earlier this month, the Jets had vowed last week to continue their bid for a 13-acre site on top of the far West Side rail yards owned by the MTA. The project has drawn much opposition from neighborhood groups and some political figures who say the stadium plan didn't make sense for New York.
Since being turned down for $300 million in state financing, the head of the Jets' architectural firm, A. Eugene Kohn, said he has fielded many calls from supporters and interested parties offering to help. A major international steel company which he declined to name is considering donating 83,000 tons of steel for the project.
"There's a real interest by foreign companies for this facility," Kohn said, noting that they see the potential for future Super Bowls and major sports events being held in Manhattan.
Unions and builders support the project because it's "a very critical project to the overall economic development initiatives on the West Side," said Lou Coletti, head of the Building Trades Employers' Association, which represents construction companies. One or some of the unions could invest a pension fund into the project, as some unions have done for some private developments in the past, he said.
In addition, Kohn said he had also called Donald Trump to see if he would be interested in helping on the project. A call to Trump's spokeswoman wasn't returned Tuesday, but Trump is also being courted by the Jets' chief rival for the site, Cablevision Systems Corp., which owns Madison Square Garden.
"The first step is going to contract," said Matt Higgins, Jets vice president for strategic planning. "It's heartwarming to see how many people want to see it through despite the setback."[/quote]
http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/nyc-stad0615,0,338144.story?coll=ny-football-headlines
jake · 2005-06-15
[quote]Jets persevere on stadium, with help from unexpected quarters Email this story Printer friendly format BY PRADNYA JOSHI STAFF WRITER The New York Jets are still keeping their drive for a new stadium alive and are getting unsolicited offers to help with their financing, a project developer and supporter said. An international steel company, the city's real-estate developers and even union pension funds are weighing being investors in the $2.2-billion project, which also could be used for expanded convention center space and rented out for other special events. Despite being turned down by a crucial state board earlier this month, the Jets had vowed last week to continue their bid for a 13-acre site on top of the far West Side rail yards owned by the MTA. The project has drawn much opposition from neighborhood groups and some political figures who say the stadium plan didn't make sense for New York. Since being turned down for $300 million in state financing, the head of the Jets' architectural firm, A. Eugene Kohn, said he has fielded many calls from supporters and interested parties offering to help. A major international steel company which he declined to name is considering donating 83,000 tons of steel for the project. "There's a real interest by foreign companies for this facility," Kohn said, noting that they see the potential for future Super Bowls and major sports events being held in Manhattan. Unions and builders support the project because it's "a very critical project to the overall economic development initiatives on the West Side," said Lou Coletti, head of the Building Trades Employers' Association, which represents construction companies. One or some of the unions could invest a pension fund into the project, as some unions have done for some private developments in the past, he said. In addition, Kohn said he had also called Donald Trump to see if he would be interested in helping on the project. A call to Trump's spokeswoman wasn't returned Tuesday, but Trump is also being courted by the Jets' chief rival for the site, Cablevision Systems Corp., which owns Madison Square Garden. "The first step is going to contract," said Matt Higgins, Jets vice president for strategic planning. "It's heartwarming to see how many people want to see it through despite the setback."[/quote]WSS Not Dead Yet!
http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/nyc-stad0615,0,338144.story?coll=ny-football-headlines