Posted on: Wednesday, December 11, 2002

UH seeks sports advice in Colorado

Advertiser Staff

University of Hawai'i officials and state senators will visit Colorado this weekend to discuss with Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen the potential for a public-private partnership of sports facilities on O'ahu.

The Hawai'i delegation will visit Invesco Field at Mile High, the Broncos' home stadium, to meet with Bowlen and the partners who developed the facility, according to a release by Senate president Robert Bunda's office. "The Denver model is intriguing because it was the product of a public-private partnership," Bunda said. "Such an effort ... could enable us to upgrade our Aloha Stadium and other facilities without the necessity of taxpayers footing the entire bill."

Bowlen, a part-time Hawai'i resident, has promised to help set up any similar arrangement here, according to Senate officials.

Those traveling with Bunda include Senate minority leader Fred Hemmings Jr., Senate vice president Donna Mercado Kim, UH president Evan Dobelle, UH athletic director Herman Frazier, UH general counsel Walter Kirimitsu and Lynn Kinney, vice president of the Hawai'i Building Trades Council.