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FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2002

The Gila River Tribe of Arizona on Thursday announced it was withdrawing its proposal for a $350 million Arizona Cardinals football stadium.

Tribal officials cited a legal opinion issued by a local county attorney and political maneuvering as the basis for their decision. Maricopa County Attorney Richard Romley on Wednesday issued a preliminary analysis that called into question whether the tribe's proposal could meet all legal requirements.

The tribe's withdrawal leaves the city of Mesa set to gain the stadium nod although the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is a backup choice. But the city of Mesa is still seeking to complete financing while the Yavapai tribe could face legal questions as well.

The city of Tempe has also withdrawn from negotiations with Mesa to partner on the stadium. The vice mayor said the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, which plans to pick a site next Wednesday, has not been dealing with tribes and local citizens fairly.

Get the Story:
Tribe drops stadium bid (The Arizona Republic 3/22)
Tribal leaders look past stadium decision (The Arizona Republic 3/22)
Tribe drops stadium proposal, leaving only Mesa's (The Arizona Republic 3/21)
Tempe rejects proposed stadium partnership (The Arizona Republic 3/21)
County's legal opinion on stadium (The Arizona Republic 3/21)
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Relevant Links:
Cardinals Stadium Site Selection, Arizona Tourism and Sports Authority - http://www.az-tsa.com/siteselection.htm

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