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LANSING, Mich. -- A state board on Wednesday unanimously gave the go-ahead for a new Red Wings hockey arena in downtown Detroit to be paid for in part with $284 million in tax dollars even as the broke city works through bankruptcy proceedings. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and others defended against criticism that the $650 million project should be financed entirely with private money because the city currently cant provide basic services and retirees are facing cuts in their pensions. The 18,000-seat arena is designed to be a catalyst for more development and to link downtown and midtown, turning a blighted area into a business, residential and entertainment district. "This is part of investing in Detroits future," said Snyder, a Republican who blessed a state-appointed emergency managers request to take the city into bankruptcy last week. "Thats the message we need to get across. ... As we stabilize the city governments finances, as we address those issues and improve services, Detroit moves from a place where people might have had a negative impression -- although there are great things already going on -- to being a place that will be recognized across the world as a place of great value and a place to invest." The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved the Detroit Downtown Development Authoritys request to use economic development taxes for the project. The board also took a preliminary step toward issuing $450 million in bonds to build the arena, to be paid off in no more than 30 years by the Red Wings owner and the city. Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has long wanted a replacement for the 32-year-old Joe Louis Arena located a few miles away. The new complex would be close to the Lions Ford Field and Tigers Comerica Park near Interstate 75 and Woodward Avenue. Under the plan, the authority would own the arena and event centre complex. The Red Wings owner would have exclusive rights to use, manage and operate it, and hold naming rights. No new taxes or funds from the cash-strapped city would be needed. The state Legislature last year approved a bill to help finance the project by allowing the use of tax dollars collected by the downtown development authority. Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer, an East Lansing Democrat, opposed the measure as a drain on funding for Detroits public schools. "Now that the citys actually in bankruptcy those concerns are even more justified at this point," spokesman Bob McCann said Wednesday. "Were all supportive of new development in Detroit. But its difficult to tell the residents of the city that this is more important than public safety or street lights." Snyder argued the project will increase the citys tax base in the long run and create jobs. Fifty-six per cent of the overall project cost would be private and 44 per cent public, though about 60 per cent of the actual $450 million arena cost would come from tax revenues. Another $200 million --all but $23 million of it private -- is planned for projects nearby that could include rehabbing existing buildings and vacant lots for a hotel, stores, parking deck and residential units. Olympia Development, owned by Ilitch and his wife, said the funding split for comparable major sports complexes in other cities in the past decade has averaged 75 per cent public and 25 per cent private. Construction of the arena is anticipated to be done by 2017. Its also expected to host other entertainment events. No design has been made public. Representatives for Olympia Development said the project will create 400 more permanent jobs and 5,500 construction jobs. At least half the construction jobs must go to city residents. Other approvals are needed by local agencies. "There is some additional due diligence that has to happen as a result of the Detroit bankruptcy," said Michael Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. "But we have not identified anything that would signal pulling back from the project. We are motivated to continue moving forward and we trust that the project will be successful." New Balance Sneakers Discount . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Cheap New Balance Shoes China . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. http://www.newbalancediscount.com/ . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. New Balance Running Shoes Discount . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. New Balance Shoes Cheap Online . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons.BALTIMORE -- Nate McLouth was at a loss to explain the Baltimore Orioles dud of a performance against a team with the poorest record in the majors. "That was kind of baffling. Pretty safe to say that was our worst game of the year," the outfielder said after the Orioles absorbed an 11-0 beating from the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. "It was embarrassing, actually. Im glad its over." Going up against a rookie who found out only hours earlier that he was going to receive his first major league start, Baltimore managed only three singles in seven innings off Brett Oberholtzer. Oberholtzer (1-0) was thrust into the starters role after Erik Bedard was scratched with a sore shoulder. Making his fourth appearance and first start in the big leagues, Oberholtzer struck out six, walked none and did not let a runner get past first base in earning his first win in the big leagues. "He threw strikes and he had a lead," Baltimores Adam Jones said. "Tip your cap to him, man." The Astros build a 9-0 advantage over four innings against Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez (8-5) and coasted to their most lopsided win of the season. "My bullpen was great, everything was down, and I thought I was going to go out there and do pretty well," Gonzalez said. "The first inning was good, second inning I was just leaving the ball up, and it just carried on throughout the whole game. It was just a tough night for me overall." And for the Orioles. It was Baltimores worst margin of defeat this year, and the second time in three games the Orioles absorbed a shutout. Prior to that, they had been blanked three times in 105 games. Baltimore finished with seven hits, two apiece in the eighth and ninth innings. "We havent swung the bats real well as of late. Kind of collectively," manager Buck Showalter said. "You dont say thats just one of those things thats going to happen. You want to shorten it up and get bacck to what were capable of.dddddddddddd Tomorrows an opportunity to do that." The Orioles can only hope the feeling they got from this game doesnt languish. "It shows you, you just never know what youre going to get on a given night," McLouth said. "Our fans dont deserve to see that type of performance. Well clean that up. Well have to get over that one quick." Hours before the first pitch, the Astros traded right-hander Bud Norris to the Orioles for outfielder L.J. Hoes and a minor league prospect. Hoes switched from the Baltimore starting lineup to batting second for Houston and went 0 for 5. Norris, the focal point of the trade, will start the deciding game of the series Thursday night against his former teammates. In this one, Matt Dominguez homered and had a career-high four hits to help the Astros improve to 3-9 since the All-Star break. "It all started on the mound with Oberholtzer," manager Bo Porter said. "What a tremendous job. Its amazing what happens when you throw strikes and dont put people on base." Houston took control with a four-run second. After Castro hit a leadoff double, Brandon Barnes delivered an RBI double and scored on a single by Dominguez before Robbie Grossman hit a shot onto Eutaw Street beyond the right-field scoreboard. The Astros tacked on five runs in the fourth, courtesy of a botched grounder by shortstop J.J. Hardy. The two-out miscue with the bases loaded allowed a run to score, and Castro followed with his first career grand slam. Brett Wallace hit an RBI single in the sixth and Dominguez homered off Francisco Rodriguez leading off the seventh. NOTES: The Orioles put RHP Jason Hammel (strained flexor muscle) on the 15-day disabled list and activated Steve Pearce from the DL. ... Orioles star Chris Davis extended his club-record run of games with a strikeout to 24. ... Porter said Bedard was scratched "to give him a couple extra days of rest." ' ' '