The community boasts the most mannerly people, the arts, the architecture, the utmost in dining and shopping, and a history unrivaled anywhere in this country. Oh, and there's the normally balmy weather, the beaches and the incredible golf courses -- God's way of preserving paradise! Sports venues here are splendid -- from Riley Park to Blackbaud Stadium to the North Charleston Coliseum to the Daniel Island Tennis Center. What's missing? That's right ... a football stadium. These assets I mention have been discovered by others ... those who can market our community with the "centerpiece" of a bowl game. But there is much more to consider. It takes visionaries.

Let's reinvestigate all of the information concerning this proposed expenditure of taxpayer money. Johnson Hagood Stadium was completed in 1948. It was financed over 15 years from bonds -- repaid by taxpayer money -- contributed by both Charleston County and the city of Charleston. Those payments ceased in 1963. The final 40 years of its use were free. Yet the city and county continued to receive revenue from local and accommodations taxes in addition to their respective shares of state taxes -- whether from hotels, restaurants, merchants or hot dog vendors. Keep in mind that there were many other events than Citadel football games held there -- everything from high school jamborees to a visit from Mother Teresa.

Of the proposed expansion to 35,000 seats, only the 13,000 additional seats are at issue. The Citadel is on track in its mission to replace the original 22,000 seats. Those 13,000 seats bring this community a unique opportunity -- one that will either show up now, or pass us by for the foreseeable future. The bowl game itself brings much more than added revenue to support our local and state governments. It brings tourists. They spend the rest of those tourist dollars in our economy. Whether there are 35,000 more of them here, or 20,000 more, the number is still more than we would have without a bowl game. Those 13,000 seats also open up new possibilities.

The "package" of what a bowl game brings is well beyond money. The S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism allocates our state advertising revenue. We are a "tourism state." Recently, we learned that a one-minute spot of national advertising at the Super Bowl cost the advertiser $2 million. The PRT cannot afford the sheer immensity of advertising that will come with this game -- a showcase event for our state and our community. ESPN and its affiliates (ABC, ESPN2) broadcasted 25 of the 28 bowl games this past season. They advertise these games on all of their affiliate stations. ESPN alone is in 88 million homes. ESPN2 is in 85 million homes. These promoters own three other very successful bowls (in Honolulu, Las Vegas and Ft. Worth). They will not risk millions on Charleston without knowing it will be successful. I was recently privy to a proposal meeting between ESPN and a potential major national bowl sponsor. The sponsor is enthralled with Charleston. The main question they asked of me was, "Will the stadium be ready on time?"

The Historically Black College or University football game to be held each year in the stadium also comes with the "package." Just last year, South Carolina State University played Benedict College in Columbia before 50,000 fans. This MEAC vs. SWAC foe would be an in-season meeting to be telecast nationally. The game would include an ESPN-sponsored job fair, among other potential ancillary activities.

The "military college" basketball double-header would also be played in front of a national audience. It would be the first ever meeting of the three military academies in such a format. The Citadel would serve as host. But it may not be the only basketball venue to come because ESPN will have placed an office here. A proposal to bring as many as four nationally ranked teams into an eight-team field -- hosted by our local college teams in alternating seasons -- for an exempted Thanksgiving tournament each year would likely pack the North Charleston Coliseum.

And there's more. I have had discussions with two members of the 1-AA Football Committee. Both would like to see the championship game (early December) moved to our new stadium. Why? You can sit in nice stadiums anywhere in the country. Or you can come and enjoy Charleston. This game would also be nationally televised.

Communities are made up of more than just football fans. Citadel Athletic Director Les Robinson, an earnest visionary, has conceded that the stadium should be a community facility. He mentions several events that can be enhanced by the new stadium from Spoleto USA to the Charleston Symphony Orchestra to Boy Scouts and outdoor Easter services.

Who gains the biggest benefit from the proposed ESPN package? The city of Charleston? Charleston County? The Citadel? None of the above. The state of South Carolina gets 5 percent of every dollar spent. House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, a true visionary, sees this revenue as a source of other funding for pressing state needs. He is taking a controversial stance among those who do not see the entire picture. Yet he perseveres for the good of every resident in this state.

There is a big picture here. As far as state expenditures are concerned, the caution is warranted and welcome. In sports terms, our state "team" must be good on both offense and defense. This is certainly a defensive year. Yet, there are still some offensive opportunities. This one comes with a return of investment that can fund other dire needs along with formidable advertising exposure to bring in even more year-round revenue. We will not always be on defense. On the stadium expansion issue, right now we have the ball.