Council considers downtown arena

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The proposal to build a sports arena in downtown Albuquerque is going to be the talk of tonight's Albuquerque City Council meeting.

The project could cost up to $400 million, and the question city leaders are being asked tonight is whether tax dollars be spent when many are scaling back spending on things like sporting events.

The city would add 1/8 of one percent to the sales tax to pay for the project.

And some city council members want this to be decided in a voter referendum.

If passed the events center would be built on land now used for parking on 1st Street NW across Central Avenue from the Rail Runner Express station.

The study projects the center would be home to minor league hockey, basketball and arena football teams and also would host major concerts and trade shows.

But one of the concepts most vocal backers said the study found an events center would not be a drain on taxpayers even if the local economy remains in a slump for the next four years.

"It makes sense to have something at the end of those four years, so that we can be competitive," Councilor Debbie O'Malley told KRQE News 13. "So I'm very positive about this proposal.

"It will go to the voters. The voters will have an ultimate decision on whether or not we do this project."

Even if city council members let voters decide the fate of the events center, the project will cost Albuquerque taxpayers $1 million dollars if the facility never gets built--$700,000 for the study and another $300,000 for a special election.

The city has twice rejected plans for a downtown arena but in different locations from the site of the current proposal.