<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Colts and state agree on stadium plan By Brendan O'Shaughnessybrendan.oshaughnessy@indystar.com The Colts and the state authority building them a new stadium are expected to announce an agreement Thursday on final details of the $500 million project.Signing the development agreement clears the final hurdle for the Indiana Stadium and Convention Center Building Authority to obtain funding and finally break ground on a new retractable-roofed stadium."My expectation is they will not only announce it but also approve it and move forward," said state Sen. Luke Kenley, the architect of the stadium legislation and a non-voting member of the authority board, in an interview today. "I feel greatly relieved -- it looks like we'll get it done and hold to the timeline of finishing by Aug. 15, 2008."The groundbreaking, originally set for Aug. 1, was delayed by the need to complete the lengthy document that controls everything from its architectural design to the number of corporate suites and concession stands.Sources close to the negotiations said one of the final sticking points, a $3 ticket tax authorized by the Indiana General Assembly in an effort to balance the burden on taxpayers, will not be implemented. The Colts have argued against the tax maintaining ticket holders already pay a 5 percent admissions tax, which is going up to 6 percent.State officials finally gave in when they decided the money the ticket tax would raise annually wasn?t necessary to finance the project. The team will pay $100 million, and the other 80 percent of the cost will come from increased taxes on prepared food and beverages in the Indianapolis metro area, as well as on hotels and rental cars in Marion County.Authority officials have been scrambling to complete the agreement before the season opens so they can begin the 3-year construction schedule and finish in time for the 2008 season. The city?s Capital Improvement Board, which will operate the 63,000-seat stadium, agreed to a 30-year lease with the team last week, putting added pressure on state officials.</div>This is very big for us hoosiers, hopefully it dont take that long though
I bet it will be ready for the 2008/2009 season, they take a while to buildSaints are trouble with their stadium
