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Sports Watch

By Bill Kwon

Thursday, February 15, 2001

Note to UH: Stay
out of swap talk

AT first glance, the idea of the University of Hawaii taking over the operations of Aloha Stadium seems like a good idea. At least, on paper.

After all, by running the 50,000-seat Halawa facility, the university can save its football team around $800,000 in rental fees annually.

It has always seemed absurd to outsiders why a state institution had to pay rent for using a state facility. Hey, that's how things are run in Hawaii, OK?

But in rushing -- and that's the operative word here, rushing -- to save user fees and eyeing parking income, the university might be biting off more than it can chew in taking over Aloha Stadium.

The athletic department is having a difficult enough time as it is operating its own budget without going into the red. Yet it wants to take on additional obligations.

The biggest would be the maintenance cost of the 26-year-old facility. Right now, it's seriously underfinanced -- even with the $800,000 rental that the UH football pays. Or the $4 million paid annually by the Swap Meet.

Not surprisingly, in a 9-0 vote, the Stadium Authority opposed the university taking over. It would mean the end of its existence.

But there are so many unanswered questions about cost items, manpower, obligations and possible liabilities the university might have to assume, that even some school officials are concerned.

"Clearly, we need to evaluate what the pros and cons are," said Eugene Imai, the university's senior vice president of administration.

In a hearing Tuesday night on Senate Bill 1097 before the senate education and economic development committee, Imai recommended forming a task force made up of all parties involved with Aloha Stadium. And that any proposal be enacted by the next Legislature.

Imai says that there is considerable revenue potential if the university takes over. But, at the moment, there are too many unanswered questions.

Donald Kim, a member of the Board of Regents, said he doesn't know enough to say if it's a good idea or not. And, he added, "I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other."

I'm glad there's no rush. And there shouldn't be.

UH should first find a new president, replacing Kenneth Mortimer. And how about a baseball coach? Naming a replacement for Les Murakami has taken long enough.

THE idea of the university taking over jurisdiction of Aloha Stadium had been proposed by UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida and football coach June Jones.

Gov. Ben Cayetano has endorsed the idea, but added: "If the stadium goes under the jurisdiction of the university, the stadium has to be self-sufficient, as it is now. They're going to have to find ways to generate revenue."

Some of the revenue-generating ideas proposed in a feasibility study prepared for Yoshida by sports agent Leigh Steinberg's group will raise some eyebrows and objections.

The idea of selling the name rights to Aloha Stadium for one. But there's no better name for the facility right now.

And it would do disservice to the name of the late Gov. John A. Burns, the individual most responsible for the stadium being built. Even he didn't want it to be named after him.

Another is establishing a premium parking scale, the top price being $500 as part of a donor ticket package.

The study also suggests keeping Aloha Stadium in a permanent football configuration, and allowing the high schools to play only major games there to reduce costs.