Council: Give us more time on arena deal

By LAUREN MARKOE

June 30, 2000 Web posted at: 11:46 AM EDT (1546 GMT)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Charlotte Observer) -- The Charlotte City Council wants more time to negotiate an arena deal with the Hornets, but team co-owner Ray Wooldridge says he's not going to extend the deadline past Dec. 31.

After that day, the Hornets can leave Charlotte without financial penalty, according to the terms of their lease on the city-owned Charlotte Coliseum.

The council voted two weeks ago to meet the Dec. 31 deadline - if members decide to help build an arena at all. Last week, after learning the legislature would likely block a bill allowing a public vote this year on using city money for an arena, the council asked Wooldridge for more time.

"Why should I move the deadline when we have a process that's been agreed upon by the City Council?" Wooldridge said Tuesday. "Why would I today decide that we weren't going to meet any of those deadlines? What is the purpose?"

	More from Charlotte Observer
	'I tried to talk my son out of it' Big video poker operator closes doors early Sewage spill prompts swimming warnings on Catawba Call for queries nets big critiques Holiday weekend fizzles for some

One of Wooldridge's bargaining chips in his negotiations with the city is the possibility that he will move the team, though he says his goal is to keep it in Charlotte. He also has said the team is losing about $1 million a month playing in the Charlotte Coliseum and that it needs a modern arena to turn a profit. Wooldridge wanted to break ground in August but says he now realizes that's unrealistic.

Council members say arena negotiations could have progressed faster had Wooldridge not submitted his own financing plan May 22, months after he promised.

Council members last week lost their chance for a referendum before Dec. 31 when Mecklenburg's legislative delegation declined to take up the bill that would grant the city permission to hold one. Council critics, and even some council members such as Mike Castano and Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess, have said veteran council members purposefully doomed a referendum by getting their request to the legislature too late.

At a meeting Tuesday where Wooldridge's lawyer presented the team's newest financing proposal, council members asked about a deadline extension. In response, the lawyer presented a letter from Wooldridge, who is vacationing in Spain.

"It is my understanding that the purpose of the extension is to provide additional time for a referendum to be taken regarding funding for the New Charlotte Arena," he wrote. "As you know, I have never publicly commented on the referendum issue since I believe this is a city/state issue and, as such, do not feel it appropriate for me to take a position."

The response angered council members, who said Wooldridge should have been more straightforward.

"That means no," said council member Malcolm Graham.

For more Local news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

AL, Birmingham, WBMA AL, Huntsville, WAAY FL, Orlando, WKMG FL, Tallahassee, WTXL FL, Tampa, Bay News 9 FL, Tampa, WFLA FL, Fort Myers/Naples, WINK FL, Jacksonville, WJXT FL, Miami, WPLG FL, Miami, WSVN GA, Atlanta, WGCL GA, Augusta, WJBF   GA, Augusta, WRDW GA, Columbus, WTVM GA, Macon, WGXA GA, Savannah, WSAV GA, Savannah, WTOC KY, Louisville, WHAS LA, New Orleans, WGNO LA, New Orleans, WWL MS, Columbus, WCBI NC, Charlotte, WBTV NC, Charlotte, WCCB   NC, Raleigh-Durham, WLFL SC, Charleston, WCIV SC, Charleston, WCSC SC, Columbia, WOLO SC, Greenville, WHNS SC, Myrtle Beach, WBTW TN, Chattanooga, WDEF TN, Chattanooga, WDSI TN, Knoxville, WATE TN, Nashville, WTVF VA, Norfolk, WTKR VA, Roanoke, WSLS