http://www.northjersey.com/page.php...FeXk3MTczMjQyJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mw== Stadium roof would cost state $421M Tuesday, July 24, 2007 By JOHN BRENNAN STAFF WRITER State taxpayers would have to shell out $421 million to construct a retractable roof on the new Meadowlands football stadium -- about twice as much as previous estimates -- according to a report by consultants for the New York Giants and Jets. And for that price, fans would receive "weather protection but not climate control," meaning the roof would keep them dry, but the stadium would not have heat or air conditioning. The roof also wouldn't be built until after the stadium's inaugural 2010 season, so it would not be fully integrated into the facility's design. Both the Giants and Jets refuse to help pay for a roof that the teams say would provide them little economic benefit. The report -- which cost taxpayers $169,598.53 -- could be the death knell for a roof proposal once touted as a way to attract Super Bowls and other major national events to North Jersey. The analysis was first commissioned last year, even though Governor Corzine backed off his push for a retractable roof in March 2006. Carl Goldberg, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority chairman, said Monday that it would "not be accurate" to say the state already has abandoned plans for a roof. "While a lot of numbers have been bandied about before this, it wasn't backed by much real research," Goldberg said. "Considering the cost of the state's potential investment, it seemed prudent to do this kind of report." Goldberg said he was awaiting analysis by sports authority executives before commenting on the likelihood of the state moving forward. He may not be able to wait very long, however -- the report concludes that the state would have to commit to $62 million in upfront costs by Oct. 1, or face the risk of even higher costs down the road. The five engineering and design firms that authored the report, including Tishman Construction Company of New York, also found that the state would face $18 million in annual operating expenses if the roof were built. The construction of a climate-controlled roof, meanwhile, could cost almost twice as much -- because of fire protection; heat, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and other considerations, according to the report. The Jets and Giants began driving piles at the new stadium site -- slightly north and east of Giants Stadium -- several months ago. On Thursday, the sports authority board approved a resolution authorizing continued work at the site even though the long-delayed exterior design plan has yet to be approved. In exchange, the teams surrendered their right to retain a "state-of-the-art" clause in their lease agreements with the state in the highly unlikely event of a collapse of plans for a new stadium. The clause would have required the state to keep Giants Stadium in line with innovations at other stadiums nationwide and could have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The agreement will allow the teams to begin "going vertical" -- erecting steel at the site -- as soon as next month. "We also wanted them to be in a position to obtain their financing for construction, while they are refining the last details of the design," Goldberg said. "We still haven't given up our authority to approve the final exterior." A spokeswoman for Governor Corzine said it would be "premature" to comment on the report, while a representative for the stadium joint venture did not return a call seeking comment. Sports authority Vice Chairman Joseph Buckelew expressed his desire at last week's board meeting to Meadowlands Xanadu executive Larry Siegel that the Xanadu and football stadium designs be coordinated. Siegel said he understood the concerns. "We'd like it to be that when you look at [the sports complex], it looks like one big master plan rather than two separate things done without any discussion," Siegel said.
I didn't think there were ever any plans for a roof..and is it even being built so that one can be added later?
You have to have AC if there is a roof...... The dome in Toronto has a retractable roof....and it's OK, but even when it is open there's still alot of roof covering the field, it's never totally open.
I'm confused as well. I thought the Giants had already emphatically stated they wanted no part of a roof, and the Jets went along with this. Now it appears Goldberg took it upon himself and the Sports Authority to order a roof estimate, the cost for which is being borne by the NJ taxpayer. I don't think it'll matter much because the Jets/Giants aren't going to pay for it and the state is going to have a real hard sell if they expect the taxpayers to pay for it. But I'm not real keen on the roof idea either. At first it seemed appealing, particularly as I get older, but I still like my football outdoors, come what may. Now, don't all you New Yorkers jump in all at once... you'll use up too much bandwidth at the same time. I can hear it now... "Should have been built in Manhatten... I told you it would cost as much as the WSS..." "The stadium should have been in New York because it's the NY Jets..." "Queens would have been the best location..." "Should have had our own stadium..." "The Meadowlands sucks..." Etc., etc.....
The only benefit out of having a retractable roof would be to have the Super Bowl there at some point.
Football is an outdoors game. Domes and roofs are absolutely one of the worst ideas to ever hit the game.
I think they want retractable roof and the only reason the state pays is because the teams don't want it. Thats fine with me
I other words its about time to start talking about a psl. There was no way they would talk about until they got the project underway. I hope I am wrong.
This is so typical! No one wanted the WSS but now the roof is a bad idea for the new NJ stadium? Higher cost? No Super Bowl? MORONS!
Fuck the roof and fuck the Super Bowl. Look how tough it is to win at New England in the playoffs and how tough it was in Buffalo and Green Bay when they were good. Sure it's the team, but the elements help too. NO ROOF!!!!
Ugh...I like the roof idea. Haven't any of you sat on the east side of the stadium for a 4:00 game? The sun is literally blinding for a good hour.
NY needs to host a Super Bowl at some point if the NFL is pushing the Giants to the rest of the world.
Are you serious about the son, man? Have you ever sat on the west side (visitors) of the stadium in December while seeing everyone in the sun? For reasons that will remain unmentioned, we used to be on the west side and the east side blows it out of the water. On a nice day in the middle of winter I'll gladly wear sunglasses (which happened a lot last year) Any Given Sunday (pun intended for the great flick).
Shucks just raise the PSLs & we can have a dome & AC. Lets say 600M for both so our share would be 300M adding only a paltry 3.75K per seat more based on a 80,000 seat stadium
