Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

Post by kapakahi »

kapakahi wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:50 am
Accordingly, the Aloha Stadium Authority has been operating on their own revenues (essentially as a private business)…..so it shouldn't be a surprise that the pandemic (with no spectator events) has also significantly reduced their financial resources (much like a private business - but actually even worse since any unspent revenue must be returned at the end of the fiscal year to the State's general funds (for re-appropriation by the Legislature) plus the Governor has not designated any CARES relief funds for the stadium) to continue operating & maintaining the facilities. As such, the Aloha Stadium Authority is not allowed by law (as was introduced & enacted by the Legislature) to retain any unspent revenue beyond any fiscal year.....to purposely prevent revenue reserves to be established (i.e., can no longer retain any revenue profits for future expenditure).
kapakahi wrote: Mon Dec 21, 2020 12:05 pm Even IF the lack of revenues (due to no spectator events due to COVID) is the reason for suspending stadium operations, just can't expect the stadium structure to continue to be safe for spectator events (without implementing any structural repairs while it's structural deterioration continues to accelerate thereby degrading it's structural integrity) for 3 or 4 more years (IF and when a new stadium is built). Stadium revenue won't solve that problem.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/02/ ... p-it-open/

From the Star-Advertiser....
Measure would help Aloha Stadium pay its bills to keep it open
By Ferd Lewis Today

Without a $1.5 million emergency appropriation from the legislature this session, Aloha Stadium might have to cease operations, lawmakers have been told.

With its ability to hold large events impacted by COVID-19, the facility is seeking budgetary assistance for the first time in its 46-year history in order to finish the current fiscal year that concludes June 30 and stay open in July.

The request is separate from any health and safety repairs and maintenance but does include $300,000 to pay for a forensic structural assessment of the decaying facility.

“I don’t want to be doomsday, but if you have no help from the legislature come the end of the fiscal year, come the end of June, what does that mean?” state Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi-Pearl Harbor) asked stadium officials in a hearing on Senate Bill 1033. “Do you just shutter the place and walk away? What happen if you don’t get any kind of assistance?”

Stadium manager Scott Chan said, “I would hate to say that, but the only alternative that I know is we’re going to have to shut down. There no other way for us to pay for our expenses.”

The stadium does not receive an annual appropriation for operations from the state and relies on the revenue from the events it hosts to fund its $9 million annual budget.

Without the upfront money from the state, Comptroller Curt Otaguro termed it a, “You gotta hunt what you eat” arrangement.


But with concerts and other large events canceled since March, swap meets cut back and football games held without fans, the facility has been running at as much as a $4.6 million shortfall.

Deputy Stadium Manager Ryan Andrews said expenses have been trimmed, temporary employees laid off, new revenue sources sought and leftover cash from previous years used to narrow the deficit.

Still, Chan said, “Our rough estimates show us that our cash balance will be in jeopardy. We just want to make sure that we don’t get to that point. We’re hoping that what we do now will carry us a little further.”
Last edited by kapakahi on Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:19 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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kapakahi wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:08 pm
New funding could be appropriated by the Legislature in the upcoming legislative session (January through April) but typically wouldn't be made available until July 1, 2021 (the start of the State's fiscal year)…..which would mean that certain maintenance (and some repair) work could be performed....but also that certain intrusive structural repair work would probably have to wait until 2022 (during the off-season when any significant repair work is typically performed) since it would typically not be safe to allow spectator events to be conducted within a construction zone (from a general liability insurance standpoint). Only the Governor can authorize and designate emergency funds to be made available immediately!
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/02/ ... 7be0036ea0

From the Star-Advertiser....
University of Hawaii football team unlikely to play at Aloha Stadium in 2021
By Ferd Lewis Today

Even if the Legislature appropriated funds to repair portions of crumbling Aloha Stadium, it is unlikely the facility would be ready in time for University of Hawaii to play in front of fans there this season, the State Comptroller said Thursday.

“The timing is such that I don’t think we could get the stadium repaired in a way that would provide a safe venue for our public this season,” said Curt Otaguro, who heads the Department of Accounting and General Services.

“So I think this season is not in the picture unless they want to play without fans, which is not the most preferred (option), obviously,” Otaguro said.


The Rainbow Warriors’ home opener with Portland State is scheduled for Sept. 4 and UH has said it is moving toward playing its six-game home schedule on campus at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex.

Athletic director David Matlin has estimated it will cost the athletic department $6 million to retrofit the Ching Complex, where UH hopes to be able to accommodate crowds of up to 10,000.

Health and safety repairs at Aloha Stadium, many of which have been delayed for years, are estimated to cost in the tens of millions of dollars, pending an updated forensic structural analysis.

Otaguro said, “Unfortunately the legislative session is going on as we speak and the soonest that we could get appropriated money would be at the end the of the session, which I think they are going to end early this year, in the end of April. So, maybe, if we were lucky we could get funding by June, before the fiscal year ends.”

However, Oraguro noted, “That is just to get the money. Then we have to get the consultant (report) back and assess and prioritize which areas (need the repairs). We could start the repairs, but I don’t think (they) would be done by the end of August in time for the season to start. That’s one issue.
The second is all of our issue, will we be in a position for the state to allow large gatherings again even though the vaccine is coming out? That’s a big what-if. And, so, even if we could open the number of fans in the stadium — or any venue for that matter — remains unknown.

Otaguro said, “(Gov. David Ige) has asked what will it take to re-open parts of the stadium so we can allow people there? And, so what we have told him is we will need to (do) the study, engage with our engineers to do the assessment first to determine how much more corrosion has occurred in the problem areas that we have already identified.”
kapakahi wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:50 am
Those [legislators & Governors] who fail to plan [ahead and take action in a timely manner]…..inexorably [though not intentionally] plan to fail.....

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Forget No-Aloha. UH needs to get moving fast.
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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My3Cats wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:00 am Forget No-Aloha. UH needs to get moving fast.
I really don’t think the governor cares. They have gotten use to using Covid as an excuse for everything.

Tupola, even with her total lack of experience, would be hustling through a solution. But we pretty much always go back to the Democrat. That’s fine. But don’t complain if you voted for that guy.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Ige's a lame duck. Coasting until his term ends in 2022. Maybe our next Governor will have a spine but not be a d!ckhe@d.
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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My3Cats wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:29 pm Ige's a lame duck. Coasting until his term ends in 2022. Maybe our next Governor will have a spine but not be a d!ckhe@d.
I think Josh Green would be more responsive. Political party doesn’t matter to me. What happens to politicians though is that they do the same crapp for way too long and start to think they are important. I could make a list of a hundred people way more fit to lead the state than David Ige. Why we got to keep picking from long term insiders? Their length of service usually means they are arrogant and/or corrupted. Ige’s niceness does not make up for his lameness.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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What are you dissenters complaining about? You must seriously consider what it is that you dislike about government. Hawaii has only had one Republican governor, and she was terrible. Her family and company were/are despicable. Her implemented policies were awful. She accomplished nothing. In fact, Republicans in America haven't accomplished much over the past 50 years. Sure, we shouldn't entitle the poor...and yet, we should give them a lift. The war on drugs doesn't kill it...it fuels it. The wall doesn't work...most immigrants fly in.

Should the stadium be condemned? Yes. It was designed to rust. How stupid was that?

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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SundayJam wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:49 pm ......... You must seriously consider what it is that you dislike about government ....
I can answer that. It is almost March, and our football team will soon need to take the field. And sports is a unifying positive force in our communities.

Remember we had governor, A, that pissed off the NFL and they stop coming. Pro Bowls were not good football games but they were great for our kids.

Now we have governor, I, that sends mixed messages and provides no leadership on what is going to happen with our team. A team that bring us very positive community experiences. You can say Gov has nothing to do with this. That’s fine, if he feels that way, he should move the hell out of the way and let someone else lead. This is the exact type of issue that a good leader brings people together and is decisive. Decisive now, not when it is too late.

Governor “L”, since you brought her up, and no matter how much you dislike her, did not ever get in the way of sports. She understood the benefit to our community. And she was pretty accurate with her prognostication of the multi-billion dollar failed rail program. Maybe she had leadership skills, you think?

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Lingle was a moderate, right of center Republican who unfortunately had to bend to the will of the recent strength of that party, the Tea Party people. She also ran up against the Democratic party strength in the State House and Senate. She did pretty good for Maui as their Mayor, but got road-blocked at the State level. Moderate Republicans in office got run out of that party and many switched over to the Democratic party, further eroding the conservative middle and pushing the party further to the right.
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Let's keep teh political pst out of here and also lets not get into Dem vs Rep.
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Not stating any politicial opinions here.....just providing a historical account....
kapakahi wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:50 am
The Aloha Stadium Authority has been seeking funding for a new stadium over 15 years ago now. While the Lingle (Republican) administration supported funding for a new stadium during her 2-term (8-year) administration, the Democratic-led Legislature would not support funding for a new stadium (but did appropriate repair & maintenance funding). Then neither Governors Abercrombie and Ige would support funding for a new stadium until being re-elected for a 2nd term....so in turn the Legislature wouldn't support funding either without backing from the Governor while also cutting back on the funding for needed repair & maintenance work at the stadium.

Only after getting re-elected did Governor Ige support funding for a new stadium in the 2019 Legislative Session but then the Legislature also decided not to appropriate any more funds to allow needed repair & maintenance work to continue in order to maintain the existing facilities until such time that a new stadium could be built.
Those [legislators & Governors] who fail to plan [ahead and take action in a timely manner]…..inexorably [though not intentionally] plan to fail.....
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/02/ ... spotlight/

From Sunday's Star-Advertiser....
Since 2006, barely 33% of requested funding has been provided for needed structural health and safety work. Meanwhile, between 2016 to 2018, the number of steel members categorized as ‘severely corroded’ is reported to have increased by approximately 300%.

In a update late last year, the Aloha Stadium Authority was told the end zone diagonal braces, which are described in a report as “keeping the stadium from tipping over…” are pinpointed as areas of increasing concern.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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From Sunday's Star-Advertiser....
Since 2006, barely 33% of requested funding has been provided for needed structural health and safety work. Meanwhile, between 2016 to 2018, the number of steel members categorized as ‘severely corroded’ is reported to have increased by approximately 300%.

In a update late last year, the Aloha Stadium Authority was told the end zone diagonal braces, which are described in a report as “keeping the stadium from tipping over…” are pinpointed as areas of increasing concern.

Could they demo the end zone stands 2nd level brown/red/yellow and keep the lower level and locker rooms/offices underneath?

Get rid of the bridges. And only use orange and blue sideline and press box.
Last edited by UnBiasFan on Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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UnBiasFan wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:47 pm From Sunday's Star-Advertiser....
Since 2006, barely 33% of requested funding has been provided for needed structural health and safety work. Meanwhile, between 2016 to 2018, the number of steel members categorized as ‘severely corroded’ is reported to have increased by approximately 300%.

In a update late last year, the Aloha Stadium Authority was told the end zone diagonal braces, which are described in a report as “keeping the stadium from tipping over…” are pinpointed as areas of increasing concern.

Could they demo the end zone stands 2nd level brown/red/yellow and keep the lower level and locker rooms/offices underneath?
Was thinking about that but the top section also has the lights
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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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Irse wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:54 pm
UnBiasFan wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:47 pm From Sunday's Star-Advertiser....
Since 2006, barely 33% of requested funding has been provided for needed structural health and safety work. Meanwhile, between 2016 to 2018, the number of steel members categorized as ‘severely corroded’ is reported to have increased by approximately 300%.

In a update late last year, the Aloha Stadium Authority was told the end zone diagonal braces, which are described in a report as “keeping the stadium from tipping over…” are pinpointed as areas of increasing concern.

Could they demo the end zone stands 2nd level brown/red/yellow and keep the lower level and locker rooms/offices underneath?
Was thinking about that but the top section also has the lights
Maybe they don’t need end zone lights. Or put in a temporary solution. We need 3 years.

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Re: Aloha Stadium...condemned?

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UnBiasFan wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:55 pm
Irse wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:54 pm
UnBiasFan wrote: Mon Feb 15, 2021 4:47 pm
Could they demo the end zone stands 2nd level brown/red/yellow and keep the lower level and locker rooms/offices underneath?

Get rid of the bridges. And only use orange and blue sideline and press box.
Was thinking about that but the top section also has the lights
Maybe they don’t need end zone lights. Or put in a temporary solution. We need 3 years.
The Upper Concourse Level contains the Stadium's scoreboard controls (in the North End Zone) and the Public Address system controls (in both the North & South End Zones) as well as the main lighting controls along with associated step-down transformers (for the whole stadium; not just the end zones). The Public Address system is required by life safety code for crowd control announcements in case of emergency situations.

Need to the keep the bridges in order to maintain a continuous egress path on the Lower Concourse level for spectators from the sideline stand sections (to comply with life safety & building code requirements) to access the North and South plaza areas and the perimeter AC paved access roads, in turn, to egress the stadium confines via the respective exit gates. The exit stairs & escalators from the sideline stand sections alone do not comply with egress code requirements nor do they provide a handicapped accessible egress path for physically disabled spectators.

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