All relationships have their bumpy spots in the road. The NFL and the State of Hawaii repaired a big pothole yesterday in their 24-year Pro Bowl partnership, as league vice president Jim Steeg presented Gov. Linda Lingle a signed contract for installation of Fieldturf at Aloha Stadium. Contract for Fieldturf
installation at Aloha
Stadium is finalizedWork on the new surface is
scheduled for April and MayBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comInstallation is scheduled for between April 1 and May 26. A $1.3 million price tag will be shared by the NFL and Fieldturf (about $400,000), the Hawaii Tourism Authority (about $500,000) and additional funds from the state (about $300,000).
The contract, signed yesterday by Steeg, Aloha Stadium manager Eddie Hayashi and Fieldturf president John Gilman, is the culmination of months of negotiation, much of it frustrating.
"Government shouldn't have to be this hard. I think everybody learned a lot of lessons," Lingle said. "What counts the most in the end is meeting our goal of keeping our commitment to the National Football League."
Numerous delays and personality conflicts plagued a switch from AstroTurf to grass or another surface to the NFL's liking -- a switch that was mandated in the five-year Pro Bowl contract between the NFL and the Hawaii Tourism Authority that was signed in 1999.
The HTA did not consult the Stadium Authority until last spring, and the proposed switch drew heated opposition from members of the Stadium Authority. Authority members questioned the need for a new surface when the AstroTurf has five years left on an eight-year warranty and cost the state $2.4 million.
Even yesterday, controversy continued. West Pac Hawaii sent documents to the Star-Bulletin complaining about lack of attention to its request to make a competitive bid for a synthetic turf called Prestige System.
HTA president Rex Johnson did reply to Prestige Sports, explaining the HTA's contract with the NFL.
NFL coaches and players have left no doubt that Fieldturf is their choice when a natural surface is not available.
"Obviously the best thing would be grass," said Oakland Raiders' quarterback Rich Gannon, a two-time Pro Bowl MVP. "But Fieldturf is an improvement over the current turf. It would definitely be an upgrade."
Center Dominic Raiola plays his home games on Fieldturf as a member of the Detroit Lions. He also played on Aloha Stadium's AstroTurf as a Saint Louis School Crusader.
"I love (Fieldturf). I think we were the first college to have it (at Nebraska)," Raiola said. "You definitely feel the difference on your body. Just like grass, but you don't have to take care of it like grass."
HTA and Fieldturf finally did get a go-ahead from the Stadium Authority last summer after intervention from then-Gov. Ben Cayetano. The Fieldturf was to have been in place for the beginning of the 2002 football season, and then in time for Sunday's Pro Bowl. But questions of who would pay how much for the installation and completing the work in a short time frame (after the Dec. 25 ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl) caused another delay.
Lingle said Lenny Klompus, her senior adviser-communications, deserved credit for helping to finalize the deal.
Steeg also said the NFL will holds its annual meetings on Maui in March 2005. They were last held in Hawaii in 1991.
The league also announced donations of $100,000 to 25 Hawaii non-profit agencies and 1,000 children's books to the Hawaii Library Foundation.
Steeg said he will be ready to meet with HTA and other officials after Sunday's game to discuss a new long-term contract to keep the Pro Bowl in Hawaii; before yesterday's announcement, the game's future here was in doubt. The current contract ends after next year's game.
"We'll probably meet Monday or Tuesday and come up with some kind of game plan," Steeg said. "We want to make this a longer and longer relationship. We look forward to that. We really feel we're a part of this community and we have a responsibility, especially to the children."
Stadium Authority chairman Eddie Hamada walked away happy yesterday.
"It's good for the people of Hawaii," Hamada said.
Lingle said she was glad to get it resolved, but hopes that similar issues don't reach the fifth floor of the state Capitol.
"I think we were able to work it out to everyone's satisfaction while actually enhancing our relationship (with the NFL) and moving forward," Lingle said. "I'm ready to step in when something needs to be done, but we have much bigger issues to deal with than putting turf in a stadium."