Aloha Stadium’s current 50,000 seating capacity would decrease by 30 percent to 40 percent if the recommendation of a consultant hired to study the facility’s future is adopted.

Foley & Lardner LLP, a New York law firm, recommended "a new 30,000- to 35,000-seat stadium on the lower portion of the stadium site," as part of a 35-page comprehensive site summary unanimously accepted Thursday by the Aloha Stadium Authority.

Authority Chairman Charles Toguchi said, "While the summary includes observations and recommendations from Foley & Lardner, the Stadium Authority has not made any definitive decisions regarding the future of Aloha Stadium, as we look forward to analyzing the summary and soliciting feedback from the public."

Toguchi said, "The purpose of the summary is to provide the Stadium Authority with facts and stakeholder opinions so that we can make informed decisions about the future of Aloha Stadium."

The Halawa facility, which marks its 39th year of operation in September, has undergone numerous renovations, and the report said that the Department of Accounting and General Services "estimates approximately $120 million in high priority health and safety improvements are needed to keep the stadium operational for the next five to 10 years." The study said a new stadium could "save the state between $2.4 million and $3.2 million per year in operating expenses alone." 

The study also stated that a new 30,000- to 40,000-seat stadium, which includes premium seating options and other modern amenities, could be built in Hawaii at a cost of $132 million to $192 million (in 2014 dollars), excluding transportation and related infrastructure.

The state is contracted to pay Foley & Lardner $250,000 for a multiphase study of the stadium. The next phase, the authority said, "includes developing criteria for a request for information solicitation and drafting of a request for quotation solicitation regarding the future of the site, based on the decisions made by the Stadium Authority."  

In the meantime the Stadium Authority said it will seek addition public comment with a July 10 open house. "It is important that the authority review and consider comments from the public," Toguchi said.

Foley & Lardner listed 36 entities and individuals, including the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the University of Hawaii and the NFL, as stakeholders it said it met with while compiling the report.

Mufi Hannemann, a Hawaii Independent Party candidate for governor, said, "I believe that we need a new stadium, but I question whether we’re going backwards by building a stadium with less seating capacity and doing it in the name of trying to save dollars."

Hannemann, who was involved with the NFL Pro Bowl, said, "I know that this will definitely restrict the type of events and activities that we can bring to Hawaii, and we’ve worked very hard through the years — many people have — to make the case for the fact that we can be an international sporting arena and host major events, and I think this impacts not just football, but soccer and other sports."

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined comment on what a 30,000- to 35,000-seat stadium might mean for the future of the Pro Bowl here. Aloha Stadium has been the site for the annual all-star game every year but once (2010) since 1980, but the NFL has increasingly begun looking at other venues. For example, the 2015 game will be held in Arizona, and Houston is under consideration for 2017. 

HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney said, "The HTA is looking forward to working with the Stadium Authority as they begin the process of evaluating options for the Aloha Stadium." 

University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple, who has pitched Pac-12 membership as a goal for UH athletics since arriving in 2012, was not immediately available for comment.

A 35,000-seat stadium would be the second smallest in the Pac-12, where the average capacity is more than 60,000. Washington State’s Martin Stadium holds 32,740.

The Foley & Lardner recommendation, however, is in line with UH athletic director Ben Jay’s interest in a 30,000-seat multipurpose facility.

Jay commissioned a $15,000 study with a separate consultant earlier this year, and UH officials said they are awaiting the report. Jay was out of the country and not immediately available for comment Thursday.

UH football has not sold out a home game since 2007. 

The report also recommended:

>> The state continue to pursue removal of both the federal and city deed restrictions to "facilitate ancillary development on the stadium site."

>> The state "explore options relating to the construction of a parking structure on the current (Kamehameha) parking lot adjacent to the proposed HART station to alleviate parking concerns, increase potential development space and facilitate a transportation hub."

>> The state "commence a request for information/request for proposal process to solicit information and gauge interest with respect to development of the stadium site."

>> That the "governor create a committee to coordinate the efforts of the various parties with respect to development surrounding the proposed HART station on the stadium site and ensure the state’s interests are protected."

>> "Regardless of whether the state decides to close the portion of Salt Lake Blvd. between the Kamehameha Parking lot and the stadium on a permanent basis, we recommend that such portion of Salt Lake Blvd. be closed, at a minimum, for all event days to improve pedestrian safety and streamline traffic flow."