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West Side Stadium Project Closer to Reality

The proposed West Side Stadium is much closer to being a done deal. After a 2 1/2-hour debate, the MTA's board voted unanimously 14-0 to accept the Jets' $280 million offer to buy the development rights to the rail yard where the stadium would be built.

The proposed West Side Stadium would have a retractable dome, giant display screens, and windmills along the top to generate some of it’s own electricity.

If completed as planned, the state-of-the-art stadium would be ready for the Jets by 2009, New York would increase their chances for being selected by the Olympic committee to host the 2012 games, and thousands of construction jobs would be created in the downtown area. Critics protest the high price tag of a luxury project coming from tax dollars that could otherwise be spent on schools, healthcare, and other priorities.

The $1.7 billion stadium would be built on a platform over rail yards currently owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The stadium would feature a retractable roof, wind turbines along the top to generate some of the stadium’s power needs, and giant TV screens.

The MTA decision was a major victory for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who believes the stadium will help revitalize new growth in downtown New York City, and make it possible for the city to host such special events as major conventions, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics. Rev. Al Sharpton also thinks the stadium will be good for the New York economy saying, “This is not about fun at the stadium; this is about jobs at the work site.”

Whether or not to build the stadium has been a very controversial issue for many, with passions raised on both sides. Gifford Miller, president of the City Council, has said he intends to pass legislation that will choke off funding for the project. “This is not over,” Miller said. “This project is a terrible mistake.”

To those in New Jersey, the stadium means the Jets would leave Giants Stadium, where they have been since 1984. New Jersey’s Acting Gov. Richard Codey said he believes that unless New York wins the Olympic bid when the committee meets in July, the stadium won't get built, and the Jets would end up staying in the Meadowlands. New York has competition for the bid, with Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow all vying to be chosen to host the games.

Some see the stadium as a boon to the city. “I believe one of the great parts of this city will be the West Side Stadium,” said Peter Kalikow, the MTA's chairman.

The MTA's deal with the Jets still needs the approval of the Empire State Development Corporation, which has so far been supportive of the project, and a unanimous vote from the state's Public Authorities Control Board.

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