Johnson conceded that getting approval for the Manhattan stadium will most likely take a struggle.

The Manhattan stadium's estimated cost is more than $1.4 billion, hundreds of millions more expensive than any stadium ever.

There is no way a Manhattan stadium could make it through all the approvals - including litigation - by the time of the Olympic committee vote in July 2005.

Queens has long been offered as an alternative by those who opposed the Manhattan stadium.

A Manhattan stadium could require costly improvements to accommodate traffic and parking, as well as mass transit, since the nearest subway station would be blocks away.

The Mayor used New Jersey's plans as an opportunity to attack city officials yesterday for criticizing the plans for a Manhattan stadium.

Mr. Steinbrenner appears to feel that the referendum might cripple plans for a Manhattan stadium.

To wit: whether public money should help finance a Manhattan stadium.

"A Manhattan stadium provides an economic multiplier," Mr. Frucher said.

"I'm not excited about the idea of a Manhattan stadium, and never have been," Mr. Pataki said yesterday.