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SEATTLE (February 18, 1998) -- Sports fans across the state will cheer this week as the Washington State Lottery launches Sports Bonanza, the first Scratch game dedicated to raising funds for the state's new football/soccer stadium and exhibition center.
In 1998, Sports Bonanza and other special Lottery Scratch games earmarked for stadium construction will generate $6 million as mandated by state legislation. Last summer, voters approved an innovative $400 million public/private funding package to build a world-class football/soccer stadium and exhibition center. The stadium package includes $300 million in state funding and $100 million in private financing. The new Lottery games will generate nearly $127 million of the state's funding commitment.
Sports Bonanza, a $2 ticket with a top prize of $20,000 is now available at Lottery retailers throughout the state. The next stadium-funding game is slated to hit the shelves this June.
"This exciting new lottery game allows the public to be involved in helping to fund a world-class football/soccer stadium and exhibition center while offering our players multiple and fun ways to win." said Merritt Long, Director of the Washington State Lottery Commission. "We'll all benefit from this innovative public-private partnership for many years to come."
The Washington State Lottery was established in 1982. To date, more than $2.2 billion in prizes have been awarded from ticket sales of nearly $4.3 billion. More importantly, Lottery contributions to the Washington State General Fund, which supports education and social services, have surpassed $1.4 billion. Today the Lottery offers consumers five game types: Lotto, Scratch, Quinto, Daily Game, and Daily Keno.
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