Ferd, please correct the information in your story.

The cost estimate of $324.5 million is NOT for "a new 30,000- to 35,000-seat stadium, expandable to 40,000 seats" as stated in the article sidebar.

Rather it is for a 31,000-seat facility that could be expanded to 40,000 for special events.  The Executive Summary says:

"A new stadium, by contrast, would cost a total of $324.5 million, including $260 million for  building hard costs... This plan would build a 500,000 square foot facility with approximately 31,000 permanent seats, expandable to 40,000 with temporary seating."

So the report approved by the Stadium Authority contemplates reducing stadium capacity by almost 40%.  Considering that the facility will have to serve the needs of UH football and other users for roughly the next 50 years, as the local population continues to grow and grow, it would be extraordinarily shortsighted and foolish for the governor and legislature to agree to this.  We need a stadium, not a SHOEBOX.