By Bill Nichols
Giant step were taken yesterday toward the realization of a new superstadium to house all major sports in Cleveland when top city, county and state officials agreed to finance a 90-day feasibility survey costing $120,000.
In addition, Ogden Corp., which built a working model of the sports complex, revealed it is prepared to finance the project either as a private venture, or to purchase all public bonds.
At the civic unveiling of the stadium model at Hotel Sheraton-Cleveland, Council President James V. Stanton, Gov. James A. Rhodes and Cuyahoga County Commissioner William J. Day agreed on a share-the-cost survey with each branch of government contributing $40,000.
The purpose of the survey is to find a site, decide upon the method of financing and the physical makeup of the stadium complex and to establish a target date for construction.
THE GENERAL FEELING yesterday was that the stadium would be downtown.
Charles Luckman, New York architect who designed the new Madison Square Garden and the Forum in Los Angeles, estimated that the cost of the stadium proper, not including a proposed dome or parking area, would be $26 million. With the dome and ample parking the project was estimated to cost $45 to $50 million.
Luckman, speaking for Ogden Corp., proposed two methods of financing.
Luckman said: "our corporation (Ogden) is prepared to finance it entirely or if it went to a public bond arrangement we would be willing to buy up the bonds."
"This will be the most modern stadium in the United States," Stanton said, at the unveiling.
County Commissioner Frank Pokorny also was enthusiastic over the project. He said: "This stadium fits into our thinking now and I think we should all work hard toward its completion."
The STADIUM would have 65,000 seats for football baseball and soccer and approximately 17,000 seats for hockey and basketball.
At yesterday’s meeting it was suggested it could also be used by Cleveland State University for convocations and other school activities requiring ample seating.
There would be 38,000 movable seats, which would put the stands close to the field, regardless of the sport. Approximately 600 box seats would move too and would remain in perfect position for football, soccer or baseball.
These are the largest number of movable seats of any stadium in the country and the way we designed it people could buy year-round box seats," Luckman explained. "We’ll be able to move the 38,000 seats in just 30 minutes and these will put the spectators closer to the action than any stadium in the United States.
"IN SAN DIEGO’S new stadium it now takes 22 hours to move just 3,000 seats. And in St. Louis it takes 17 hours to move far fewer seats than proposed here."
Plans for the domed roof are included in Luckman’s drawings, although the model did not display the cover. This would be of an opaque mesh material which could be lowered in the manner of a curtain to make it a stadium within a stadium for basketball and hockey.
The cover would be either permanent or retractable. A decision on this will be made known at the conclusion of the 90-day survey.
The stadium would measure 90 feet to the top of the seats and 140 feet from the ground to the top of the lights. The cover would enclose the entire stadium, which would have elevators and escalators to reach each of the three decks.
Luckman said it would take two years to build the stadium.
Among those at the model unveiling were Vernon Stouffer and Gabe Paul of the Indians, Art Modell, president of the Browns, Gov. Rhodes, Mayor Carl B. Stokes, Thomas Vail, publisher and editor of The Plain Dealer, Thomas Boardman, editor of the Press, Howard M. Metzenbaum, owner of the Stokers, and George Grabner, president of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.