Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 5

FINAL Wednesday, March 14, 1990 The Arizona Republic AS SUPER 9 BOWL NFL gives bi ame to Valley King Day pressure grows for legislators 'Eyes of world' to focus on state t. i 1l i. II I- David PetklewiczThe Arizona Republic NFL, from page A 1 future of the Cardinals, whose attendance lagged last season, to the vote. "There was some emotion in that room, that the fellow who got the Super Bowl was having trouble in his community," said Al Davis, managing general partner of the Los Angeles Raiders. "This showed good camaraderie and statesmanship." Peg Nugent, liaison for the San Diego Task Force, said, "Billy put his heart into it and said, 'I'm in trouble with my team.

You've got to save But the King Day issue still could derail the league's decision. Arizona legislators, after years of debate, passed a law last year replacing Columbus Day with King Day. But a referendum drive put the issue on the ballot this November when voters will decide whether to keep King Day. "You have to get the Martin Luther King (holiday) problem straightened out, or you won't have Mhe game," said Norman Braman, owner of the Philadelphia 'Eagles and 1 Site Selection Committee chairman. "If that situation blows up in Arizona and there is a smear on the Martin Luther King holiday of any kind, I will personally lead the effort to rescind the Super Bowl game.

We wouldn't go there. Mow could we go there?" Braman said the Site Selection Committee was "assured" by the Phoenix '93 Super Bowl Committee that Arizona will have a Martin Luther King holiday before the '93 game is played. "This committee is committed more than ever to get MLK passed," said Ron Spellccy, a Phoenix '93 committee member and vice president of the Phoenix Valley of the Sun Convention Visitors Bureau. Higher bid loses The Valley was awarded the game even though its $14.1 million bid was $4 million to $5 million less than Los i Angeles' proposal. Los Angeles had a bigger bid because of the Rose Bowl.

That is 27,000 seats more than Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium, where Super Bowl XXVII will be played. group met several times during the past year to come up with a proposal. The $14.1 million proposal about $10.5 million from ticket sales and about $3.5 million to $4 million in incentives was presented to the owners Tuesday. The proposal included giving the league 100 percent of the revenue from concessions, novelties and parking. In addition, the Phoenix '93 committee offered the use of 68 skyboxes 1,176 seats and 5,839 loge seats that could be sold at premium prices.

San Diego offered 45 skyboxes and 2,400 higher-priced scats. Los Angeles offered 34 skyboxes and 272 higher-priced seats. The Phoenix committee also offered to make more than $2 million in improvements at Sun Devil Stadium and to pay the league's costs for the 1992 annual meeting at the Arizona Biltmore and the '92 Competition Committee meeting at the Boulders Resort in Carefree. "I think the proposal made by the committee and the economic proposal made by the committee was very good and compared favorably to the other two, with the exception of a difference with the Rose Bowl," SUPER BOWL SITES Locations of the Super Bowl from 1967 Valley bonanza is estimated at $200 million By Steve Yozwlak and Ed Foster The Arizona Republic Key Arizona lawmakers said Tuesday that they feel under more pressure than ever to enact a paid holiday for slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. now that the eyes of the world will focus on a Super Bowl here in 1993.

The National Football League awarded the contract to the state Tuesday, despite earlier concerns that the absence of a King holiday would cost Arizona the game. But Norman Braman, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and head of the NFL Super Bowl Site Selection Committee, warned that he would move to rescind the selection of Tcmpe's Sun Devil Stadium if Arizona did not enact a King holiday. Arthur Mobley, a member of the Arizona "Keep the Dream Alive" coalition, said he fears that the holiday will be forgotten now that Phoenix has the game. "We hope they (Phoenix) just don't go back to Arizona and put this issue on the back burner. That's our main concern," said Mobley, who attended the NFL meetings in an attempt to persuade the owners not to vote for Phoenix until the holiday was approved.

Lawmakers who support the holiday said the stale's business community must continue efforts to pass a holiday. 'Not sure where we stand' Opinion was mixed, however, about what effect Tuesday's announcement would have on efforts to enact a King holiday this year and avoid a public vote on the issue in November. Senate President Bob Usdanc, R-Scottsdale, and Senate Minority Leader Alan Stephens, a south Phoenix Democrat, said they believe that Tcmpe's selection as the site of Super Bowl XXVII could increase pressure to pass a paid stale holiday honoring King. "I believe there will be a lot of pressure from other places to say that (King Day) is important and that it should be done before they officially come," Usdane said. Stephens said he believes that NFL players likely will press for a holiday before they agree to play in the Valley.

'The man should be honored' NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw had no comment. But Luis Sharpc, a Phoenix Cardinals offensive tackle and a representative to the association, said he would not like to play in a Super Bowl in a state that did not have a King holiday. "If it comes down to whether or not the state will derive exposure or what kind of economic benefit it will get, it shouldn't come to that," Sharpe said. "The man should be honored for what he stood for." But Rep. Henry Evans, a south Phoenix Democrat who has voted for the King holiday every year, said he is reluctant to take any action while the King holiday issue is before Arizona voters.

A coalition of anti-King and Italian groups combined in December to collect the required 43,350 signatures to force a referendum vote Nov. 6 on legislation passed in September that substituted a King holiday in January for a holiday for Christopher Columbus in October. That legislation is on hold pending the vote. "I think the issue of the people being able to petition their government to try to gel a referendum is just as precious," Evans said. "I think Dr.

King stood for that kind of thing." House Minority Leader Art Hamilton, a southwest Phoenix Democrat and avid King Day supporter, last week wrote the 28 NFL owners urging Tcmpe's selection. 'Everybody feels strongly' "I'm hoping that we will demonstrate that we are worthy of this great honor," Hamilton said. "I'm hoping that we will now continue the effort to make sure that by the time we have a Super Bowl that we have a King holiday to celebrate it." The King holiday generally falls about two weeks before the Super Bowl. House Speaker Jane Hull, a north-central Phoenix Republican, said that all options still are being discussed but that she is concerned that Braman's challenge will be perceived as unwanted external pressure on lawmakers. "Everybody feels strongly that we'd like to have the Martin Luther King holiday laid to rest by 1991," Hull said.

"I don't think threats help anybody." Bob Cohn and Lloyd Herberg of The Arizona Republic contributed to this report. Gail Thompson of the Pasadena (Calif.) Convention Visitors Bureau congratulates Gov. Rose Mofford on the Valley's selection as the site of the 1993 Super Bowl. Phoenix Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill looks on at right. we got the Super Bowl," McCain said.

After the meeting with Mobley, the Valley's 15-minute proposal, including a seven-minute video, was presented by Mofford, DcConcini, McCain and three Phoenix '93 officials. Los Angeles and San Diego then made their proposals, and the owners discussed each. The Phoenix '93 Committee didn't mention the King Day controversy in its proposal, nor was the group asked about it. But it was discussed by the owners before the vote. "Certainly, as a league, we support the Martin Luther King holiday," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

"We feel the efforts to undo it will not prevail." When Tagliabue announced that the Phoenix area had been selected, shrieks of joy were heard from Valley officials in the back of the room. Bidwill had tears in his eyes. "I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" shouted David Radcliffc, one of the. Phoenix committee's three presenters and president of the Valley convention bureau. "To see our efforts realized is like a dream.

I'm in a daze." The Arizona Republic rooms, practice facilities and some space for corporations. Brent Brown, a member of the Arizona contingent and an ASU vice president, said the money spent in stadium improvements eventually will come from the revenue generated by the seats. Brown said the initial funding for the project is uncertain. Tom Sadler, stadium manager, said the improvements were contemplated anyway but plans were accelerated because of the Super Bowl bid. Work on the improvements could begin as early as the day after the upcoming Fiesta Bowl so that everything is in place for the 1991 season.

Plans to alter field Sadler said the field will be widened by removing the bottom two rows in the stadium. That's being done so the area will be safer for players and so there will be more room along the sidelines for the media. The field will be lowered by 3 feet and a new turf system will provide a better playing surface. Sadler said the bid proposal also gave the NFL free use of the 1,176 seats in the 68 skyboxes for the game. Owners of skybox leases can use them for all events but the Super Bowl, although Sadler said he hopes to come up with some tickets for the skybox-lcase owners for the big game.

Contributing to this article were David Schwartz, Barbara Deters and Guy Webster of The Arizona Republic. V- n4 Ait P. i ij i ff ft "What I thought was significant was it (the Phoenix area) won out over money," Atlanta Falcons owner Rankin Smith said. "Any way you slice it or dice it, I don't think the money was a factor." Jim Stccg, NFL director of special events, said the Valley won the game because of "Billy Bidwill, lock, stock and barrel." Braman said, "This really is a tribute to Billy Bidwill. He has been a good soldier in this league for many years.

He's well-liked and well-respected. It was made clear it was important for the franchise and Billy Bidwill that he get the game." The Cardinals have seen attendance slide since moving to Tempe from St. Louis in 1988. Season-ticket sales dropped from 55,000 in 1988 to fewer than 37,000 last season, and only Atlanta had lower average attendance among the league's 28 teams. Drive began 2 years ago The Valley's efforts to get the game began more than two years ago when 20 businessman met at the University Club to discuss making a bid for the 1993 game.

Eventually, the Phoenix '93 Committee was formed, and the the convention bureau when employees learned that the Valley had been selected for the game, 'Really ecstatic about it' "There was a lot of noise in the office," Milliard said. "There was a lot of cheering going on. We're really ecstatic about it. I think it shows the cooperative spirit of the community and the course of work of the Phoenix '93 committee." The convention bureau is planning a welcoming celebration for members of the committee when they arrive at Sky Harbor International Airport today at 12:30 p.m. on Delta Airlines Flight 588, he said.

Bill Gamble, who as president of the Valley Innkeepers Association helped prepare the Valley's proposal for the game, was so stunned when told that the Valley had been selected that he repeatedly asked a reporter whether she was sure of her information, because he knew Phoenix had been an underdog, "What we get to do now is host the top event in the country," Gamble said. "We will get to show what Southwestern hospitality is all about. It's the biggest party that we know of." Valerie Manning, vice president of economic development for the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, said, "It's a high. Finally, we won something." The estimated $200 million impact dwarfs the amount contributed by the Valley's two other leading single sports events, the Fiesta Bowl and the Iceberg Phoenix Grand Prix. Some benefits intangible An Arizona State University study done two years ago estimates that a sold-out Fiesta Bowl brought in $30 million to $40 million and 22,000 people from out of state, and that last year's Grand Prix race contributed $26Tmillion.

Baseball spring training contributes an estimated $145 million to the state's economy, the Governor's Special Task on Cactus League Baseball reported last year. But some Super Bowl economic benefits can't be counted, such as the free television exposure for the Valley and state that will be broadcast around the world, said John Junker, I V' l3 Minneapolis rs 1 WASH. -r '-1992 Pontlac MAINE PuT 1982 a -H M0NT- ND- -vvv m'd -T wsmJ 9 VVj, mass. Stanford IOWA PA- 1985 NEV. lr-L NEB.

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L-i texas UaT aL 1973 Jt 1968 1976 Pasadena fNew Orleans 119691979 1977 983 1 1970 1978 1990 Jpa -1 1971 1989 1980 1987 1972 1981 -1975 1 986 Bidwill said. "The presence of Governor Mofford here the past three days helped push the situation. She was very beneficial. We did talk to people in New Orleans at the Super Bowl. We telephoned people, and we politicked down here." Despite the lobbying efforts, the Valley had been considered a distant second to Los Angeles going into Tuesday's presentations.

Holiday backers mollified The city's situation didn't improve Tuesday afternoon when a member of an Arizona group supporting the King holiday arrived at the meeting to tell NFL owners that the Valley shouldn't get the Super Bowl until the state gets a paid King Day. Arthur Mobley, acting chairman of the Arizona "Keep the Dream Alive" coalition, planned to pass out literature to the owners but never did. Instead, he met with Mofford and Sens. Dennis DcConcini, and John McCain, all of whom were representing the Valley in its bid. "We assured him our commitment to the Martin Luther King holiday would not begin and end with whether to 1993.

Orlando, toting a $14 million package of enticements to wave at NFL owners. In the end, it was the $10.5 million from ticket sales and $3.5 million to $4 million in incentives that helped win them over. Incentives included $2 million worth of improvements to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe for the 1991 season, plus $270,000 in upgrades before the 1993 contest. The array of "carrots" offered by the committee ran the gamut from $150,000 in game-day expenses to turning over the stadium's share of the concession, novelty, parking and program revenues. Also thrown in were free guest Nc'' A-- 5 VALLEY, from page A 1 Super Bowls.

Super Bowls gave San Diego at least $136 million in 1988 and Miami at least $140 million in 1989. No analysis has been made of the 1990 game in New Orleans, but it's believed to be about $160 million. CIC Research Inc. of San Diego said about $65 million generated by the 1988 Super Bowl came from direct spending on such items as lodging, restaurant sales and shopping. Of that figure, $52 million was spent by visitors and $13 million by businesses, the teams involved and the National Football League.

Indirect spending accounted for the million. The research also concluded that the average person stayed 4.8 days and attended in a group of 3.1 people. More than half had household in- comes of $60,000 or more a year. Influential attendees Henry, an accountant and manag-! ing partner of Arthur Andersen Co. in Phoenix, said he believes that the estimate is valid.

i "I did one of those back-of-thc-en-! velope calculations one day to see if I could believe it myself," he said. I Henry and others said Super Bowl attendees tend to be wealthy and influential. "They'll be spending more than the I average convention-goer to our area, and there's the economic-development impact," Henry said. "As a result of that, there arc going to be some people who are going to say, 'I I mm, not a bad place to do Bill Shovcr, chairman of the Phoenix '93 committee, said the economic-impact statement of the San Diego Super Bowl concluded that of those who attended, 59 percent were decision makers. "That means they could have an impact on moving an office, or opening a regional office or headquarters," said Shovcr, director of public affairs for Phoenix Newspapers publisher of The Arizona Republic and The Phoenix Gazette.

"It's a quality audience that you've never seen anywhere else." Cheering broke out in the offices of Tom StoryThe Arizona Republic The 1993 Super Bowl will be played in Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium. Planned pre-game improvements include widening and lowering the field. executive director of the Fiesta Bowl. He said the network broadcasting the game and the sports-cable television channel ESPN typically have shows about the location of the Super Bowl and other related events, such as golf tournaments, for as much as a week before the game itself. "It's the best kind of free advertising," Junker said.

Michael Casinclli, vice president of the CIC firm in San Diego, cautioned the Valley to be prepared. "It's one thing to win the bid, and another thing to accommodate the event and do it successfully," he said. "That's the key and the challenge." $14 million package The Phoenix contingent went to.