Posted on: Friday, May 27, 2005

UH urged to speed up rent cut

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Aloha Stadium Authority yesterday urged the University of Hawai'i to do what it can to help speed the amendment process if it wants to see its football rent reduced sooner rather than later.

UH was advised it could take "five months to a year" before its sees a drop in the $320,065 in rent it pays the stadium, likely meaning no reduction until the 2006 season.

"We were teasing (UH athletic director Herman) Frazier a little, but the ball is definitely in his court now," said Tony Guerrero, authority chairman. "If they want a reduced rent, then they have got to get this thing going real fast."

A similar amendment to the Aloha Stadium rules, which was required to eliminate the rent the Pro Bowl had paid, took five months but that was "fast-tracked" through the bureaucracy, according to John Dellera, deputy attorney general. Other amendments have required a year or more.

Frazier has called UH rent reduction "the most important item on our plate" for an athletic department that has run at a deficit for three consecutive years.

Yesterday, the authority approved the language for an amendment allowing it the discretion to determine what, if any, rent UH should be charged. Currently, UH pays 7.5 percent of ticket receipts or $10,000, whichever is greater.

The proposed amendment goes to Gov. Linda Lingle for approval, after which it would have to go through several steps, including a public hearing.

UH was billed $874,179 for its use of Aloha Stadium during the 2004 season — $554,114 of which was in operating expenses (clean-up, electricity, ushers, security). A stadium spokesman said all "but about $60,000" of the overall bill has been paid and a check for the balance is expected soon.

While the proposed amendment would allow the authority the discretion to lower the rent for UH regular-season games, it would not change what the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl is charged or what the authority terms "professionally promoted" events other than the Pro Bowl pay. Those still would pay 10 percent of ticket receipts or $10,000 per date. High schools pay expenses only.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.