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Stadium measure narrowly passes
PHOENIX (AP) -- Voters in Maricopa County narrowly approved a measure Tuesday that would provide most of the money for a $331 million stadium for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, 51 percent were in favor of Proposition 302 and 49 percent against. Joe Yuhas, executive director of Arizona Wins, the group backing the proposal, stopped just short of claiming victory, citing about 40,000 absentee ballots that have yet to be counted. But, he said, "Do the math. Tomorrow I think we'll have some good news for the people of Maricopa County." Backers of the proposal spent at least $1.7 million to persuade voters to approve the proposition. The vote ends speculation that Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill might move the franchise to another city. "There are so many people that need to be thanked for the work that has happened in this campaign. It's a great night. In football we call it momentum. I hope the momentum carries forward. I believe that it will. It's been great for us so far," Bidwill said. In addition to $229 million for the stadium, Proposition 302 earmarks $96 million to promote tourism, $73 million for construction and improvements of major league baseball spring training facilities and $27 million for youth and adult recreation. David Molina, president of Concerned Valley Business Owners and Citizens, which opposed the measure, said his group, which spent about $5,500, wouldn't concede, but said it was an uphill fight against the big money behind the proposition. "We gave them a good run for their money," he said. The $331 million does not include the cost of the land or the infrastructure, so the proposal faces future hurdles. Three proposed sites are being considered -- in west Phoenix, on the Tempe-Mesa border and on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation. The stadium would seat 70,000, with 7,000 additional seats for the Fiesta Bowl and Super Bowl. It would feature a retractable roof and a natural grass field that would slide outdoors when not in use.
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