http://www.northjersey.com/page.php...lRUV5eTY0ODc0NzcmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 Thursday, February 12, 2004 The MetroStars stadium project in Harrison received a boost Wednesday night when Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise presented the project as part of his state of the county address to Hudson Freeholders. The presentation came just as stadium officials stated that the agreements needed to get the project off the ground were close to being finalized. "It will be finalized within four to six weeks," Harrison mayor Ray McDonough said of the agreements needed to approve the town's large redevelopment project. "We should be breaking ground (on the redevelopment project) by the end of the summer." According to team and city officials, the nine legal agreements needed to move the stadium project forward are nearing completion, which would then clear the way for Hudson County to approve the sale of county issued bonds to pay for the project. The bonds would be repaid by tax revenue generated by the redevelopment "The progress has been steady and we feel we're in a good position right now," said McDonough. "(Harrison) is behind this project and the county is as well." DeGise highlighted the Harrison Redevelopment Project as one of the more impressive projects being proposed within the county. "It's one of the more exciting projects out there," said DeGise. We've had partnerships with the county before but nothing like a stadium. We're confident that Harrison can pull it off." Project officials downplayed any possible impact on the project by the new proposed Devils arena project in Newark, which would be built within walking distance of the proposed MetroStars stadium site. "Our project is with Hudson County and the town of Harrison, not with anyone associated with the proposed Newark arena," said MetroStars president Sakiewicz. "If they put an arena in Newark it can only help us, it will help revitalize the area." If the agreements are finalized in time, construction, which includes a 25,000-seat MetroStars stadium, retail and residential outlets, would be begin by late summer. Construction of the soccer stadium would begin by February of 2005 and be completed by the summer of 2006.