With layoffs taking place and more cuts promised to come in future months, many at yesterday’s town hall meeting with President Mark Emmert expressed concern about the prospect of a $300 million renovation of Husky Stadium still being pursued by the UW and the hiring of a new football coach who will be paid a multi-million-dollar salary.

As Emmert explained in his meeting with the university community yesterday, public policy on these issues is a “no-brainer,” but the public relations side is a challenge.

“Nobody in the country wants to touch athletics right now,” Emmert said, adding that this is mostly because leaders don’t want to be seen as putting athletics ahead of academics. However, Emmert explained that with the UW, that is not the case at all.

“Our athletic program is one of only 15 in the U.S. which is self-sufficient,” Emmert said. “WSU can’t say it, Oregon State University can’t say it and neither can University of Oregon.”

Because of this, athletic salaries are in no way connected to tuition or tax dollars. Emmert went on to explain that the key to a profitable athletics department is a successful football program.

“Football generates 85 percent of the athletic money, so if you like gymnastics and crew, buy football tickets,” Emmert said.

As far as the Husky Stadium renovation, Emmert said that regardless of where the money comes from, the renovation needs to be done.

“The renovation of Husky Stadium will create 5,000 to 7,000 jobs now, and the revenue stream won’t start until 2021 using a system that is already in place,” Emmert explained.

The revenue stream Emmert referred to is from taxes already levied on King County hotels, motels, car rentals and restaurants.

This tax revenue has been used to pay for Safeco and Qwest Field, and the planned expansion of the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle could be paid for by the tax as well. Emmert explained that the UW hopes to utilize this tax stream to pay for half of the renovation, with the other half being paid for by athletic funds.

“A Husky football game stimulates the economy more than a Seahawks game,” he said.

Emmert alleviated concerns raised by questions asked by the audience.

“If I thought for a minute [the renovation project] would get in the way of academics or take away from state capital money, I would pull the plug,” Emmert said.

Reach news editor Casey Smith at news@dailyuw.com.