A battle between the New York Jets and Cablevision is now in the courts, which could affect the construction of the proposed Olympic Stadium, the centrepiece of New York’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
The New York Daily News reports that the Jet’s new lawyer David Boles said it was unlikely the construction of the proposed West Side stadium will start on schedule. “This process has now been delayed, so it is unlikely that it’s going to start in June”. His comment came as he announced a federal lawsuit filed by the Jets against Cablevision, the stadium’s chief opponent.
However another statement issued late Wednesday by Jets spokeswoman Marissa Shorenstein, said, “we are still hopeful to start construction by July and open the (stadium) in 2009”.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has repeatedly said New York can’t win the bid without the West Side Stadium. Last month the Mayor and Governor Pataki assured Olympic officials they would obtain the necessary approvals needed for the stadium and construction could begin prior to the International Olympic Commission’s (IOC) vote July 6.
The head of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Evaluation Commission said during New York’s inspection last month that the city’s bid would be damaged if the stadium wasn’t approved before the IOC votes for the 2012 host city July 6.
