ALBANY, N.Y. -- Joe Namath, the New York Jets' most famous
alum, urged lawmakers Monday to build a new stadium in Manhattan
for his former team.
"A prediction?" Namath said. "We're going to have that
stadium."
Unlike New York's 1969 Super Bowl win over the Baltimore Colts,
Namath wouldn't guarantee a political victory for the Jets.
"Yeah, well, I had a little bit more to do with it, too,"
Namath said.
The Jets want to build a 75,000-seat stadium that would also be
the centerpiece of the 2012 Olympics if the city is awarded the
games. The project, which needs Albany's approval, would include a
convention center. While the stadium itself would be financed by
the Jets, the state and city would each contribute $300 million for
related projects.
But key figures, including State Senate Majority Leader Joseph
Bruno, have yet to support the proposal. The Public Authorities
Control Board is to vote on the matter May 18.
Assembly members, labor unions and other stadium supporters
rallied outside the Capitol on Monday. Bruno, who met with Namath
on Monday, still hasn't made a decision, said his spokesman, Mark
Hansen.
Opponents of the stadium include the owners of Madison Square
Garden. They have filed a lawsuit seeking to void the Jets'
successful bid for the right to build on the site of the West Side
rail yards from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
MSG, which would compete with the new convention center for
sports and entertainment events, says the bidding procedure for the
rail yards was flawed and unfair.