UH, Aloha Stadium close to finalizing new contract

Aloha Stadium and its prime in-facility tenant, the University of Hawaii, are close to a new agreement.

The deal is said by parties involved to be “similar” to the previous one, in which UH pays no rent but is responsible for so-called “out-of-pocket” operational costs incurred by the stadium for clean-up, ushers, security, parking, ticket sales, etc.

UH, which paid $350,000-$500,000 per season in rent prior to 2007 in addition to operational costs, currently pays $85,000-$100,000 per game in operational costs.

“Not much has changed in the deal points and we continue to talk about ways to collaboratively reduce our costs,” UH athletic director David Matlin said.

Stadium manager Scott Chan said, “We’re looking at some items that can be negotiated (down). If we can streamline costs, we will.”

Stadium officials said the soon-to-be-42-year-old facility is responsible to the state for covering its own operational expenses and payroll.

UH and San Diego State are the only schools in the 12-member Mountain West that do not own or operate their football stadiums.

In other news, Chan, who has managed the facility since 2007, has been given a two-year extension following a positive evaluation by the Stadium Authority. Chan, 57, will receive an approximately $2,400 raise to his current $118,500 salary, officials said.