It’d be tough to think big with a smaller stadium

At least it’s finally out there for real discussion. It only cost $250,000 of state money to have a mainland company tell us to make the next stadium on Oahu smaller … which is basically what our "stakeholders" told them to tell us.

But some things are pretty easy to see, for free.

If seating capacity is decreased from the current 50,000 at Aloha Stadium to 30,000 or something close to it, we’re waving a white flag on vision and thinking big.

That’s not just giving up on University of Hawaii football as a large in-person draw. It’s also surrendering on taking shots at hosting big events.

I’m told that’s not necessarily true, because the new stadium could be built in a way where expanding capacity would be simple and fast.

Given the track record of how long it takes for things to get done here, I have trouble buying that one and think event organizers might also.

Downsizing is basically giving up on the Pro Bowl. The NFL is not going to want to stage its all-star game in a bandbox.

It would be shutting the door on big ideas, such as hosting FIFA World Cup matches, World Baseball Classic games, and BCS playoff games.

If you think hosting events like those is impossible, even with a large facility, maybe you weren’t there at Aloha Stadium to see Dennis Eckersley trying to hold Rickey Henderson on first while pitching to Tony Gwynn.

When Gwynn died last week it brought to mind one of the greatest sports events Hawaii has ever hosted. It was a three-game series of regular-season Major League Baseball games in 1997, between the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Those games drew more than 37,000 and 40,000 to Aloha Stadium.

While it is true MLB never came back and won’t return anytime soon (and not just because the stadium is basically rusted into football-only configuration) that series was a shining example of what can be achieved with a big venue.

As for UH football, this is no way to advertise for the Pac-12.

And is it really the signal you want to send to corporate sponsors, not to mention the dwindling fan base?

While you’re at it, forget about scheduling any more home games with the USCs of the world.

Live TV and three consecutive losing football seasons are killing attendance.

Also, it’s looking more like when, not if, the big boys will bolt from the NCAA and do their own thing. It’s a pretty safe bet that UH will be among those left behind. And you thought the Mountain West breakaway was bad?

UH sports are in a fight for their life regardless of if, when and where a new stadium is built and how many it seats.

It’s an election year, so few want to talk about the public paying for a big stadium when indicators are a smaller, less expensive one will do. There is a part of me that agrees with taking the economy route. Priorities and all.

Gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann wants to go big, assuming there’s help.

"Let’s take a page from other cities and aggressively market for a private partner," he said, citing large Asian corporations specifically. "At 50,000, as it is, we’re barely in the game. It restricts us."

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. Read his blog at staradvertiser.com/quickreads.