Nov. 18--Boosters and critics alike found ammunition for their arguments in the latest round of reports on a proposed event center and hotel complex in Downtown Albuquerque.

A sports-management consultant told city councilors late Monday that it would be "very difficult, if not impossible" to sell naming rights and luxury suites at the new event center in today's tight economy.

But a separate consultant had good news about the proposed hotel component of the project, which would sit next to the Convention Center. The new hotel might actually help nearby hotels, such as the Hyatt, by drawing new business to the Convention Center, the consultant said.

The reports came late Monday as the council heard its third presentation in eight days on the possibility of a $400 million event center and hotel complex. As part of the project, the city would raise its gross receipts tax rate by an eighth of a cent, adding 12.5 cents to a $100 purchase.

The city is weighing whether to move forward with the project. Some councilors want to put it to a public vote.

Monday's reports came from independent consultants who would have no role in the project if it moves forward. Here's what councilors heard in a late-night presentation before a rather empty council chambers:

Dan Barrett, a sports-management consultant, said the slowing economy could squeeze attempts to sell naming rights or luxury suites for the event center. But he also said he didn't necessarily disagree that the economy will be better in two years. "It's anyone's guess how long the economy is going to be in its current condition," Barrett said. "... We're dealing with a lot of unknowns right now."

Bill Whitney, an economic consultant, said the proposed hotel would actually help the Hyatt, the flagship hotel Downtown. That's because it will provide enough rooms to draw more convention business. "It's important to the Hyatt's success that there be a second hotel," Whitney said. "It's an important element in their longterm operations."

He also said the economic projections might be even better than earlier thought because they didn't count the Rail Runner station being so close to the project.

n Paul Cassidy of RBC Capital Markets said the development team ran financial projections based on 2 percent annual growth in gross-receipts-tax revenue. That may be too aggressive, he said. Instead, he suggested gross-receipts revenue may not grow at all or just at 1 percent in the next several years.

Still, he said, the city appears to have enough revenue -- from operations and the tax increase -- to pay for the event center and hotel themselves. But there's probably not enough revenue from those sources to fund a host of related improvements under consideration, such as parking garages and nearby street improvements.

n Barrett said the developers should get a commitment from at least one sports team before the city agrees to go through with financing the project.

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