Nice scoop for the Daily News.

MTA, Jets set Aug. 31 deadline

Michael Saul

The Jets and the MTA have set an Aug. 31 deadline to decide whether to move forward with the team's controversial plan to build a Manhattan stadium, the Daily News has learned.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Peter Kalikow is expected to make an announcement about the newly negotiated deadline at the authority's board meeting today.

The MTA board unanimously voted March 31 to award its West Side railyards to the Jets, who want to build a $1.9 billion stadium. But the team's dream of returning to New York suffered a huge blow June 6 when an obscure state panel rejected the stadium plan.

Team officials vowed to keep fighting for the stadium, saying they are hopeful they can bypass the state panel by getting a zoning change through the city.

They're also looking for alternative sources for the $300 million in state money that Gov. Pataki initially pledged for the project.

"The Jets are still weighing their options and are in discussions with potential investors who could fill the $300 million state funding gap, including developers and organized labor," said a source familiar with the team's plans.

In the meantime, the Jets are continuing to negotiate with New Jersey about joining the Giants' plan to build a new stadium in the Meadowlands.