No. Dammitt, enough!! The UW is one of the largest land owners in the state of Washington. Sell some of it. I'm tired of the cost of sport stadium "upgrades" and rebuilds gettng thrown in the backs of taxpayers. Sure, yank it out of the hotel motel tax and there's
another reason that out of towners will keep Seattle and King County off the list of go-to destinations. Its not Vegas here you know. If the UW can prove that they've exhausted all other avenues of revenues and resources then maybe. But until such time (it won't happen by the way) forget it. Coming right out of the chute and asking for 150 million large for a sports stadium....Brass ones.

NO NO NO... the UW shouldn't get a new stadium because not everyone in Seattle is fun of the Huskys. The second reason is the UW is trying to build a new campus in snohomish county. When the enrollment at the Bothell campus is low. So if they want money get rid of idea of a campus in Snohomish and force on getting students to enroll at the Bothell campus and that way they can save money and spend it on the studium. Lets face it the people that support the UW are not ever smart!!!

NO NO NO... the UW shouldn't get a new stadium because not everyone in Seattle is fun of the Huskys. The second reason is the UW is trying to build a new campus in snohomish county. When the enrollment at the Bothell campus is low. So if they want money get rid of idea of a campus in Snohomish and force on getting students to enroll at the Bothell campus and that way they can save money and spend it on the studium. Lets face it the people that support the UW are not ever smart!!!

Hi Robert, Why can't the
'U' use the stadiums the
taxpayers are still paying for. The 'U' plays on Saturday and the pros on
Sunday. Bussing could be
used and the parking is better for everyone else.
Let's get our money worth
from what we have.

absolutely not!

My First thoughts were in line with the statement above by Jerri Maclay, and a workable idea I think worth investigating. However, There is another way UW's goal may be Achieved.
Have the legislators vote YES!...but, ONLY on contracted condition that UW lower tuition and other education related fees currently thrust upon students and families. The agreement should be a dollar-for-dollar trade-off, and shall be in force for a reasonable time to allow for equitable balance in inflationary value to the community. Hey, UW...It's payback time!

NO!!! U of W can use their billion dollars of endowments they receive!!!

No. You have to ask who does the stadium burden and who does it benefit. It burdens everyone and benefits only a few.

UW has many options to self-finance the entire cost of the stadium: licensing fees, ticket price increases, parking fee increasing, advertising, hit up alumni, hit up businesses around UW.

Football brought in over $31 million dollars in fiscal 2006. UW's endowment is $2.07 billion. UW is not a poor school.

Remember, Bill Gates gave $75 million to UW to build a law school, but UW still had to get money from the state for cost overruns.

You're kidding, right? If 'the other school' ie WSU, can raise student fees and apply for grants to upgrade their stadium than so can the UW. Please, they have boosters and alums who can help raise the funds - not the tax payers. When do the tax payers use the stadium? That place sits idle when teams don't practice or play.
Give it up UW - you need to prolem solve this one on your own...
WSU Alum.

NO. We were opposed to this ludicrous idea when it first surfaced this week. After reading the Sunday Times expose "Victory and Ruins" about the scandalous conduct of UW players AND MORE importantly, UW officials and King County law enforcement, we think the most honorable thing to do is raze the stadium and let the Huskies play on a grass field. Disgusting. And we thought the purpose of the school was educating people to become the best they can be.

No way, don't we have many unfunded issues that have to be addressed. Besides, the Huskeys won't move to Oklahoma City and the University will probably figure out a way to pump up their cash cow.

No. Absolutely not! If you help the UW you must help WSU, Central, etc. in equal amounts. It would not be fair to give to one and not to the others. UW has one of the largest budgets for sports around. My question is... Who is in charge of maintenance? Who has allowed that stadium to get into such a state of disrepair?

No NO is sports all we have

No. Too much emphasis is placed on a costly non education public entertainment item like football to the detriment of academic programs. One of my son's just graduated from UW and mentions the lack of up-to-date equipment in science laboratories and other technical areas. Additionally, it appears the majority of the $150M is to be spent on VIP seating, vending areas and special interest club space not even available to the general public or students -- what a waste of public funds!

I don't think the taxpayers need to keep paying for things we don't use..I have never been to a Huskies game, Nor would I ever go to one..I think UW can pay for it if they want it..I hardly ever see anyone at the field anyway..it's a waste of MONEY and time!!!! NO I don't think so...

We have more pressing needs like fixing roads and improving public transportation.
We are taxed enough and visitors scream about the taxes on hotel and rental vehicles... If Seattle and the state want to promote tourism it certainly doesn't help keeping these taxes ..the UW needs to take more of the income from football to support repairs/replacement of parts of the stadium.

Isn't education meant to teach? It's understandable that we help pay for education, but must we pay for fun and games too? No! I do not support public funding of collage football! They are supposed to be earning their own way and giving back to the school!

No, hell no. The tax payers are being asked to pay for the viaduct, repairs or replacement of one of the bridges across Lk WA, and granted the asked for expense is supposed to come from hotel and car rental taxes but cost over runs usually come from us the taxpayers. Enough already. Why should out of staters come to Seattle when it has one of the highest taxing levels in the contiguous states. I believe the U should go to its wealthy donors and ask for additional funding. Further, what ever happened to repairs as needed rather waiting until they appear dangerous to visitors? The enhanced stadium would bring in more money to the U, but it also would benefit only a small portion of the populace.

NO

What is Emmert doing with our tuition?! If a research lab needs funding we don't go running to the state - we write grants and get it elsewhere. Come on UW board of regents - do your job!

I was under the impression that UW football was supposed to be a self-sustaining entity. Sports is supposed to be fun for the spectators. Taxpayers are not having fun. We're taxed out.

Absolutely NO NO NO. Former Gov. Lock started something in this area that does not need to continue...over riding the voter's wishes.

We have too much else that needs to be repaired in this area that is as dangerous if not more so than this stadium.

By the way, the interview I just watched that had a UW student say it would be "Funner" to have a new stadium...please tell me he will not be the future for this area!@

At first, I thought YES, after all it's a state university, etc. But this morning, after listening to Robert Mack's story, I absolutely changed my mind. The school shows photos of broken bleachers and collapsed ramps. But when you listen to what the money would be used for "private suites, better locker rooms, etc." that is all "luxary" items that don't mention fixing broken bleachers and collapsed ramps. If the school wants the money, have them explain why a public institution needs private suites. If they want the money to fix the bleachers and the collapsed ramps and NOTHING else, I would continue to say yes. But luxary is not needed at the taxpayers expense. Let corporations pay for the suites, since they will be the ones who get the tickets to the suites anyway. Bottom line? HELL NO

I support this funding proposal. What the general public doesn't understand is what taxes are being considered for this proposal. It's NOT property taxes. The vast majority of the tax would be paid by visitors to the city who rent cars and book hotel rooms. The restaurant portion of the tax is a very small percentage ... that would minimally affect people who do a lot of dining out.
Since this tax has very minor impact on King County residents, and Husky Stadium is part of a public institution, why not have such tax pay for improvements? This is far more logical use of such tax than either Safeco or Seahawk stadiums, and I'm don't think they were bad investments using essentially this visitors tax scheme.

It's shocking to see the amount of deterioration to the stadium. So much so that public safety is now an issue. I cannot help but think that the UW has not maintained the structure properly, or allocated enough from the operating budget to do so. The damage and deterioration did not happen over night. Why did the UW wait sooo long to ask for $$? My guess...they want a new stadium & don't want to pay for ANY of it. So they waited until the condition has become so bad that the State will feel obligated to cough up the cash. Which will probably be what happens. Hopefully the State will pay jusy for the repairs to bring the structure up to a more sutible safety standard but the UW will have to pay for any enhanced renovations or improvements. Nice try UW, nice try, you get an A for effort.

Absolutely NOT....this is Husky stadium so let the Huskies fund any repairs. The sports boosters seem to have plenty of $$$.

I am a firm believer in having those who use a facility or service provide the financial support for it. Why should the taxpayers fund the many years of neglect in maintenance by the university. As others have mentioned, once you open the door, all the other schools will want their share. The Cougs are doing it themselves; why not the Huskies? Not everyone likes sports, yet when the Sonics threaten to leave town, we are supposed to panic and give in. I say I'll be there to wave goodbye as they leave town!! By the way, why does almost every local t.v. station think we want to spend all day on Saturday watching sports on just about every channel?? Give us some options. Thank you, Marshel Ivie

WHY DON'T WE WIDEN I-5 OR FIX THE RENTON S-CURVES??? WHO CARES ABOUT POINTS? I'M GLAD YOUR SON CAN RUN ON A BRAND NEW TRACK, BUT I GET TO GO TO WORK AND SIT IN TRAFFIC FOR AN EXTRA HOUR. FIX OUR TRAFFIC WITH TAX DOLLARS! FIGHT POVERTY!

No. The UW like every other university is an educational institution. The huge emphasis on major sports is an example of misplaced priorities in our educational system. Spend state money to improve access to education for more students, lower class sizes, bring better teachers into the system etc. Let the interested fans, alumni and business interests foot the bill.

Not only NO.. but H3!! NO!!!
Try doing it the old fashioned way.. Earn it by having your fans pay for it.

I pay my donation every year to Oregon State, and I do that by choice.
I will be damned if I am going to put forth one dime for a Fuskie house!

Come on, Tyee!!! Time to step up and give til it hurts!!!

No.... I am from Nebraska and we have a great stadium there that was financed by the Athletic Dept. and donations from alumni. Thats how this should be done here as well.

NO - any public monies that go to University of Washington must be for EDUCATION - not football! take football revenues and fix stadium.

Now that we have all said our piece about this make sure your state reps hear you too....don't think a blog is going to do it. This type of thing can squeak by in a line item on a bill for education or other pet project and we would never know until construction started. Move these great comments on to the powers that make choices about our tax dollars. Say it with your vote, say to your rep....

I totaly agree with mr.w.
There are other, more important, priorities than sports!
Since taxpayers are already paying for a major league sports stadium, few of us use, why can't the huskies use that one? At worst it might be a scheduling problem.

Robert-Here's a thought. Have the designers of Washington State's new stadium do one for the Huskies. They certainly have their fiscal act together compared to the FAT CATS at the DUB

I got an idea. How about they just use Qwest Field? We are already paying for it and heck it is only a few miles as the crow flies from Husky Stadium. it already has the parking, box seats, modern facilities, etc. that college football needs. if it is good enough for pro football, it has to be good enough for college, right?

Personally I say "NO"!The residence of(the State)are drained to the maximum with more tax increases planned,along with priority issues upcoming(520 Bridge, Alaskan Way Viaduct, normal road maintenances along with rapidly growing congestion). Myself, I plan on leaving the state after retirement! I cannot afford living here any longer.
Remember there are 10K retiring daily and do not make what we once did on our former jobs.
What I see happening is Boeing & Microsoft will eventually moving out of Wa.,due constant growing congestion.
I can testify to you what happens when a major industy moves or closes.
For I come from the Rust belt 37 years ago,(primarly the Pittsburgh area) and my home town is "Beyond the point" of No Return!
This state has to make some serious but Wise decisions in the upcoming years!

NO! Let me get this straight, I work all career to send my daughters to college (most likely the UW), then they've got the "hutzpah" to turn around and expect me to fork out more for their fun and games facility? I knew common sense was gone, but this is insanity! I thought we are still paying for a football stadium against our will (remember folks, we voted it down, but the legislators in their wisdom pushed it through anyway) once already. Do the legislators want to incite a riot in Olympia?

Education first, then extra curricular activities. Key word "Extra". We have enough problems getting education to all Americans as it is. If we're going to raise more tax money let's get more scholarships to more people.

It is time to stop gouging the taxpayer for every whim of every one who wants something bigger and better. We are taxed up to the hilt now. Let the alumni and private supporters pay for it like WSU did theirs.

NO :) The stadium hasn't fallen apart overnight. If its that big of an emergency it should have been budgeted and planned for a long time ago. They can't expect the citizens, who may or may not be fans of the Huskies, to pay for it.

If WSU can do it on their own, why not the UW? Senator Prentice just loves to spend our money. The more the merrier is her motto! Thanks. Jerry

Only if Husky Stadium will pay for me to have a new pool put in my backyard. Why should I be responsible for paying for the repair of their stadium? Taxpayers pay enough money for causes they don't want to pay for. This would be one of them.

Hell no.

No tax money for stadiums>We have roads and Education that needs that money more .

No! No! No! How about paying for those provisions we want and pay taxes for!?!? For example, fire houses, fire house supplies, police, roads, schools, libraries, disaster relief, shelters, welfare programs, job skills programs, etc. If the school wants it...they should pay for it!!! Let's have OUR government spend it on what WE need, not what we DONT NEED.

I don't see how this well fly? Using tax payer money to support an atheletic department that brings in millions of dollars a year. HELL NO!! They should have spent the money to maintain that structure over the year. What the state should do is come in shut the F***ing place down for not being safe and fine the hell out of the school for having so many code violations. Isn't that what they do to buildings that aren't up to code? I bet you they'll come up with the money in a heart beat, rather then lose all that money next year.

No - tired of paying for the sporting facilities! As mentioned earlier - other colleges in WA are upgrading/renovating stadiums w/o tax $$. I'm sure they are smart enough at the UW to come up with an alternative solution. If they can't figure it out, better hire some more professors to teach 'em!

No. Period. UW has a terrible football team and does not deserve a penny of my taxes.

Once again these "adults" seem to have a financial crisis separate from the millions in salaries they can so freely pay out. Maybe they ought to tap into that source, the one the salaries and benefits come from.

No.

As a UW student, I see the stupidity of these people at all levels all the time, but this really stands out.

If Husky Stadium really is as unsafe as they are claiming, (1) why are they still using it (2) why has this danger only been mentioned now, not months or years ago.

If the UW is really going to get more money out of the taxpayers, they really should be spending it on their purpose: which they claim is education.

Why don't they fix the other buildings that are falling apart?

I particularly find this upsetting too, because I am on financial aid, but contrary to the so called 'Husky Promise' , I'm not getting the aid I need. I struggle to pay their increasing tuition costs (which just increased this year), and so I have to skip medical/dental procedures I need, can't eat very much and my clothes and shoes are falling apart from age.

So, while I struggle to pay their increasing tuition costs, living like a hobo, they want a new stadium and expect me to help pay for it!

I don't think so!

This is absolutely ridiculous. It seems clear that UW could take care of this problem themselves, and also that they don't just want to fix the safety of Husky stadium. They want a whole new fancier stadium, and they want us to pay for it. Governor Gregoire has been doing a lot of things right lately, but her support for this is not one of them. Especially when you show us that places like CWU have found a way to take care of such a situation themselves. The focus on sports and the lack of focus on education in this state and country is an increasing source of frustration. I also liked what the Republican you interviewed said about the situation, something to the effect of 'What are they going to do? Threaten to leave?'

It doesnt matter where the funding is coming from. The gall of those people!!
If this facility has been in that kind of disrepair for so long as is claimed, then lets locate the papertrail and find out who was hanging on to that information until now. Maybe the same person who is in charge of ferry maintenance? Forget it Huskies!! We're tired of you sports people (pro and now college level) playing the public and even the politicians for suckers. Go find your money someplace else. I'd start with a bake sale or two.

No. The reason is because King County residents always get the bill for these sports stadiums. I live in King County, so every time I eat out I have to pay more in taxes. I work in Seattle, so I eat out every day of the work week. I understand that the arenas are in King County, but King County residents are not the only ones who attend. I am sick sick sick of it! I dont' go to Mariners games, I don't go to Seahawks games (because I can't afford it), and I definitely don't go to Husky games.

Why should public tax money fund "private boxes" at a stadium? If it is a "safety" problem, the use the money to fix safety problems, don't build "private boxes" for fat cat politicians and their cronies. UW is corrupt to the core.

NO on taxpayers funding Huskie stadium. Where has the maintenance been for years? I resent the message that we now have a SAFETY concern and HAVE to fix it.

You can bet if the Huskies had been winning the past few years, the Tyee Club would have funded a new stadium by now. If an alum can offer $200,000 to fire the coach and AD, there are surely others who would contribute equally to a new stadium.

Why are we paying the University Administraters such high salaries, when they obviously can't manage the resources we have entrusted to them?

Look around the country and see how dozens of universities have funded similar projects.

I'd like to point out just a few facts to everyone:

(1) Gov. Gregoire is a UW alum, so she'll be for giving the UW whatever it wants

(2) The President of the UW is a Political Scientist, thus (a) if he truly didn't expect the public to be so upset, then he isn't very smart
(b) He'll probably find some way(s) to get the legislature to approve it.

(3) At least supporters of Safeco field, Qwest field, Key Arena and a new home for the Sonics, point out the economic benefit to the community, and it does sound believable that they would make a profit on the investment.

But, not only has the UW not made any believable claims as such, but has not made any claims what so ever.

The UW administration/sports complex just expects that they are so great, that when they ask for money, the lowly 'townies' will pay for it.

I can solve the safety issue for $100 and in 20 minutes. Buy locks and shut the stadium down. It's a poor excuse for the governor to use to manipulate us into agreeing to extend a tax we already voted down.
Sports are not necessary to education, I'm not even sure I approve of P.E. in elemenary school.

NO! How many times do we have to do this before we learn?
We have close to 1 billion dollars in stadiums downtown that are only used part time.
The Seahawks play on Sunday, the Dogs play on Saturday....use the existing under utilized facilities for God's sake.

NO! NO! NO!... a thousand times NO! But if you insist on stealing from the many for the use of the few at least provide us with something we don't already have...like maybe a bullfighting arena.

My first kid had a 3.7 gpa and 1300 out of 1600 on sat and that wasn't good enough for the U. They aren't good enough for my tax dollars. Fire Emmert and don't reject qualified state residences and then maybe the state can make necessary repairs. If they want luxury items then the tyee club can buy them. Remember, FIRE EMMERT

Share Qwest field, we need a new 520 bridge, new viaduct and new ferries, that's priorities not a Husky stsdium.

I agree with the several comments on sharing Qwest field, but no new taxes. Maximizing the taxpayer's investment there makes more sense than building another little used facility.

Even if people say no, they will still fund the stadium, just like last time. That just goes to show you how corrupt our politicians are.

A definite "NO". Why should taxpayers pay for something only a priviledged few utilize? I like the idea earlier stated about using the professional fields, if UW can't raise the funds through grants and Alumni donations!

No. The people voted against the pro stadiums, using the taxes raised for those stadiums to build one for UW would just extend the inequity.
In addition, Washington state doesn't benefit from continuing to make the UW a higher priority then all the other regional schools.
Tax money, like students should distribute between all the schools.

What a joke this is, the Huskies who use to flaunt the fact that the football program made so much money that they helped fund other sports now because they have run the team into the ground want tax money for the new stadium repairs. NO WAY. Hey Dawg fans why dont you have a don james roast to rise money or a cookie sale. To robert d who said "The vast majority of the tax would be paid by visitors to the city who rent cars and book hotel rooms" that is always the same answer, how about that money going to other things besides sports, like fixing the roads. The Dawgs want Luxary boxes and improvements so that they can raise ticket prices and make more money. This is like the Sonics they want and want and wont give anything back (except they think that you should be grateful that they even let you cast your eyes on their glory) the UW is so full of Cr*p. The roosters have come home to roost and UW its time for you to pay for your primadonna wants; stop thinking you deserve this when there are other groups who need it more.

I support taxes for services that can benefit an entire community and are in some ways a necessity: public education, public transportation, and public health. The University of Washington Husky Football Team is hardly a public service.

Besides, doesn't this team make any money through ticket sales? Why don't they just sell baked goods in the stands? Make them earn their keep like other clubs and organizations. Even junior faculty do that before earning tenure.

Furthermore, tuition for a WA resident undergraduate (per quarter) is more than $2,000. It is more than $5,000 for a medical student. Not every dime of this pays our professors' salaries. Emmert is one of the highest paid university presidents. Why doesn't he dish out the cash for the football team?

They say they don't get enough TAX money for bridges,road work, teachers. YET, they love to think grandiose when it comes to a new fancy addition to the city. The AVERAGE TAX PAYER is being ripped off and unspoken for as it is. And eventually I hope, the people (TAX PAYERS), will eventually stand up, and demand better use of our hard earned money.
Tim,

First off, your kid not getting into UW is no reason to deny funding of a stadium. Second, UW is a STATE INSTITUTION. Its not a private university so like it or not this is a state issue. Third, I agree that 520, 405, and our transportation network have a higher priority.

College Football brings in at a minimum 5,000 to 10,000 visiting fans per game. These fans come to our city and boost our economy by staying in our hotels, drive our rental cars, and eating in our restaurants. This is by far more visiting fans than any of our pro sports teams bring to the area. A great experience and a great stadium brings even more fans to Seattle. It is definately something we should look at.

HELL NO! UW is the biggest blood sucking institution ever. They already made tons of money from all the poor freshman and sophmore who ended up dropping out of UW, because they couldn't get into the major they want to get in. I wasted 3 years at UW, and finally transfered to SU, and got the degree I wanted. Engineering faculty at UW is a joke too, most of the TAs and Prof. can't even speak proper English, because apparently, UW's pay is too little for most natural born US citizens. before they worry about the statium, maybe they need to worry about what UW is really for? which is EDUCATION.

No

Several years ago when the Huskies went to the Rose Bowl, Jay Leno asked a few Husky Players (while they were coming through the airport) "What country does Washington State Border?"
All (out of about 10 of them) had NO CLUE...and the one that did have the correct answer wasn't sure...tells me a great deal about the importance of education at the UW if they are accepting students who don't know simple geography...but in fact are selected for their athleticism alone. Heck NO...we shouldn't have to foot the bill considering how much tuition is and how dumb their football players appear to be!

The UW boosters can certainly pay for a new stadium...the taxpayers don't need to. Hello!!! If there are safety issues, then fine, that is a state concern. But to totally reconstruct the stadium with high-priced booths and other high-end fixtures, not happening!!! The taxpayers should't be paying for that. What doesn't the UW understand about being a "state college"?

Hey john (01/30 @1pm), if you want us to pay taxes on a stadium so 5-10K can come to town once every other week, then you are as crazy as the politicians. The people who come to town don't rent cars, they drive their own. They don't stay in hotels, they come in in the morning, and go out after the games. The Mariners bring in 20-30K several times per week who come in on the trains, etc. That is money well spent. But to fork over more money for one sport to play a handful of times a season, and only for 5 months out of the year, is ridiculous. And if we are paying for Huskie stadium, be prepared for the High Schools to want stadiums for their teams, and then let's add on the junior high programs...oh yea, t-ball in grade school need better fields as well....and the taxes go up and up and up.

Hello Mary (Feb 2nd 8:27)

The difference between the professional teams (Including the Mariners) are that 90% of the fans that go to these games are local.
You are actually incorrect when it comes to college football. Most of the teams that the Huskies and Cougars play are outside of the Nortwest.(And they have a huge amount of traveling fans) This does mean that they are flying into Seattle, renting cars, and staying in hotels. Maybe there are a few people that drive up from Califoria or Oregon and then drive back the same day, but College Football is a weekend experience and those that travel spend money. Huskey Stadium was already voted the #1 place to watch a football game because of Lake Washington, the Olympics, and the Cascades. If they actually had a stadium that was safe and renovated there would be even more visiting fans coming to Seattle.