Jim Sanborn, Welder, Bellevue

---

"It should be left as-is if it can be used for another purpose, like for homeless people of some other social purpose not related to sports. I think it should be torn down -- demolished -- if it can't be used in another capacity. I think it should have been demolished when they were having trouble with the roof and the ceiling tiles... I think that Ken Behring has gotten a bad rap from people. I think they're going to find the same issue is going to come up whether Behring, or the Nordstroms, or Paul Allen has the team -- the viability of the Kingdome's profitability. And there's still money owed on it -- I believe that King County still has to pay on the facility... Quite frankly, the sports arena should be removed from the downtown area. It's political tunnel vision downtown -- they don't take a very large view. If they were to build a new one, they should put it somewhere else."

Bobbie Grant, Welder, Redmond

---

"Upgraded, because, from a labor standpoint -- I'm a welder by trade -- that would mean more jobs. And upgrading would be advantageous from a beautification standpoint, too. I don't think upgrading will mean throwing good money after bad because it would be far less expensive to upgrade than to build a new stadium for sports. The money could be used in a better way -- invite private investment, small companies -- instead of the state operating it... I've got mixed feelings about Paul Allen's deal -- the public's expecting one person to assume too much responsibility to build or refurbish a sports complex."

Marjorie Jam, Retired, Woodinville

---

"I think it should be upgraded because I don't know what they're going to do with the building if it stands empty. I don't think any of the solutions would be very good. I think I would prefer to see upgrading done privately. And it would have to be upgraded or Paul Allen wouldn't go through with the deal. But I don't think he should have to pay for all of it -- he's paying so much already... What I wonder is why we have to have two new stadiums -- one for football and one for baseball -- because if we built two new ones, we'd have an empty building. I suppose conventions could use the Kingdome, but I don't think it's totally adequate for conventions... And why do they have to have these buildings in the center of town where there are parking problems and traffic jams? Kansas City, Missouri, has a beautiful stadium out of town..."

Mitch Loza, Nuclear safety instructor, Redmond

---

"Replaced. It's long-term versus short-term planning. Stability. Business stability. The way I feel about it, I don't think the solution is black and white. You could just fix it, but there'd always be the question remaining about can you really fix it? I think it even has to do with marketing -- people would be excited about a new stadium. That's not a structural issue, but I think marketing, for better or for worse, is involved. The whole idea of professional sports is marketing-induced. For example, in 1950, you had so many fewer teams, and an established order -- people accepted teams as, and where, they were. But times changed. Society changed. Wheels of business changed. Now, if the Seahawks or Sonics want to go somewhere else, they can... Part of the undercurrent of a new stadium is marketing... When it comes to professional sports, it all falls within the umbrella category of entertainment."

Jennifer Miller, 8th grade, Bothell

---

"I don't really know what's going on with the Kingdome now, but if it's falling apart, they should fix it. And I guess if they have to fix it all the time and it costs more money to always fix it than to make a new one, they should make a new one. I'm not really into sports, but I'm glad the Seahawks aren't leaving because they're Seattle's Seahawks."

Miro Bodsky, Retired aerospace manager, Woodinville

---

"I would say that the Kingdome should not be a public facility. It should be a private enterprise and any improvements or developments should be based on regular business demands because I think the return on investment to taxpayers is very low -- if there's ever been any. I think the whole proposition, the idea that we have such nebulous plans and financing, is ridiculous. There should be a concrete plan and financing but King County government isn't going to do it. There are too many political corners to it... Paul Allen is taking over the team but not the building and the building is public property and a losing investment. And putting more money into it won't make it any better... The county should sell it, get rid of it -- if somebody wants it. It's one of the ugliest buildings in Seattle. It looks like a big hamburger. Aesthetically, it's a disaster."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

If you'd like to comment on this Q, you can e-mail JA Editorial Page Editor Craig Groshart by clicking here. Please be sure to include the following in your message:

Thanks for stopping by and reading "Today's Issue"!