Proposal Would Move Stadium To UH Control

HONOLULU -- There is a controversial proposal to create a University of Hawaii stadium corporation that would run Aloha Stadium, channeling any profits to UH athletics programs.

Critics said it could siphon money away from stadium maintenance and repairs.

It is not a new idea. Former UH head football coach June Jones suggested such a move nine years ago. Now some lawmakers and UH football boosters are trying to make it happen.

The state's stadium authority would dissolve and a new UH stadium corporation would be created to operate, maintain and manage the stadium and its grounds as part of the proposal.

Tony Guerrero, who is a First Hawaiian Bank executive and the head of the UH athletic booster club Koa Anuenue, is proposing the idea.

"Is the government model the right model to run a business? That's what I'm asking you guys. Is that the model to run a business? I, for one, don't think so," Guerrero said at a legislative hearing.

He told lawmakers that the stadium needs the quick reflexes of private industry to succeed.

"The model I'm looking at is a business model. A business model that we can retail quickly, we can make decisions quickly, we can incent people, we can incent people to do well," Guerrero said.

Gov. Linda Lingle's Administration opposes the idea.

"This bill may divert attention from the very pressing need to move forward with the complete repair and refurbishment of the stadium," state Comptroller Russ Saito said.

Rebuilding the stadium will cost about $140 million with $12 million worth of the most critical repairs already underway. That burden concerns UH officials.

"Adding this liability to the already-large capital renewal and deferred maintenance burden of the university would not be economically feasible and, in fact, would be a detriment to the university," UH Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy Linda Johnsrud said.

The stadium did not charge UH rent for the past two football seasons, saving UH $700,000.

Only 13 percent of the stadium's revenue comes from UH athletics. Most of the stadium's income, 60 percent of it, is generated by the swap meet.