Concerns of funding a soccer stadium study

Tulsans speak out about bringing pro soccer to Green Country. Several citizens spoke before the Tulsa city council Thursday night. <br><br>They're concerned about a proposal to use city tax dollars

Friday, September 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsans speak out about bringing pro soccer to Green Country. Several citizens spoke before the Tulsa city council Thursday night.

They're concerned about a proposal to use city tax dollars to fund a study for a 22,000-seat soccer arena. While the sport is growing in popularity, some Tulsans question why the city should spend the $100,000 to fund the study. The money would come from proceeds already set aside for economic development.

Mayor Bill LaFortune says a new soccer stadium could help turn around Tulsa's downtown. He says private investors would fund the actual project. Tulsa city council member, Bill Christiansen, "as a council and as a group, just really trying to get some more solid answers about this study that weâ€™re asked to spend a hundred-thousand dollars on.â€

Tulsa resident, Mike McKee, "I think we have to do some other things first and we need to keep attracting small businesses and we need to do some other things to revitalize our own downtown."

The state of Kansas recently funded a similar study, which determined a soccer facility and sports complex would cost between $57-million and $67-million dollars, and bring nearly a billion dollars to the economy over a 30 year period, or about $45-million a year.