At a press conference this morning, the Bucks are announcing
a joint program with Fannie Mae to foster neighborhood
revitalization and increase home ownership in Milwaukee.  The
partnership will involve Bucks players and employees in consumer
education efforts aimed at promoting home ownership, as well as
the actual construction and rehabilitation of homes.  John
Steinmiller, Bucks VP of Business Operations:  "This partnership
with Fannie Mae gives the Bucks another way to show our deep
commitment to the community that provides us with so much
support.  We look forward to meeting our ambitious goals to
improve neighborhoods and increase housing opportunities in
Milwaukee."  Franklin Raines, Fannie Mae Vice Chair:  "The Bucks
and Fannie Mae are committed to addressing the housing needs of
Milwaukee.  We are pleased to join forces to create a 'home team'
that will foster neighborhood renewal and home ownership
opportunities for low- and moderate-income families in
Milwaukee."  The first phase of the partnership includes
rehabilitation of two homes for low- and very low-income families
in Milwaukee's Metcalfe Park neighborhood, as well as a bilingual
multi-media consumer awareness campaign that kicks-off Oct. 24.
The entire project will be managed by the Milwaukee Housing
Assistance Corporation, and funded with an $80,000 grant from the
Fannie Mae Foundation and additional money raised by the Bucks
(THE DAILY).
     NBA PUSHING "HOME TEAM" CONCEPT:  Fannie Mae/NBA franchise
partnerships to increase inner-city home ownership began during
the '93-94 season in Cleveland, Oakland, and San Antonio.  In
Cleveland, the Cavaliers renovated three inner-city homes; in San
Antonio, the Spurs helped draw 2,500 people to a home-buying
information fair for first-time buyers, low- and moderate-income
families, and minority families.  During '94-95, the program is
being expanded to include Milwaukee, Boston, Charlotte, Portland,
and Washington, DC (THE DAILY).

     FANS Inc., the group spearheading the effort to lure the
Rams to St. Louis, has said that instituting a permanent seat
licensing (PSL) program is the best way to lure the Rams.  To aid
the campaign, FANS has retained the services of "marketing whiz"
Max Muhleman of Charlotte, as a consultant.  Muhleman "was the
brainchild" behind the PSL program that helped Charlotte land an
NFL franchise.  Muhleman's plan in Charlotte helped the franchise
get the $150M to build a stadium.  St. Louis does not need to
raise $150M to "meet the Rams' wish list."  But the city needs
about:  $30M to pay off the "bonded indebtedness" at Anaheim
Stadium; $15M to build a practice facility; $15M to pay the NFL's
relocation fee; and $8M to buy out beer distributor Jerry
Clinton's share of the stadium lease -- a minimum of at least
$70M.  St. Louis' PSL program probably will seek to raise a
minimum of $50M, with the rest possibly coming from selling the
naming rights to the city's domed stadium (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS
POST-DISPATCH, 9/28).