An earthquake-damaged swimming facility adjacent to the L.A.
Memorial Coliseum may be demolished and replaced by a "large
parking structure close to both the Coliseum and the Sports
Arena."  The site of the '32 Olympic swimming events and the
"city's largest swim facility for youths was shut down all
summer" and it appears likely that a replacement pool and park
will be built near the area.  The addition of more parking for
the Coliseum may ease "negotiations with the Raiders on a long-
term playing contract," and "pleasing the Raiders is said to be a
major reason for officials' desire to relocate the facility."
Details still need to be decided, but a decision could be made
soon (Kenneth Reich, LOS ANGELES TIMES, 10/4).

     The Lightning "can begin building a downtown hockey arena"
after the team gave the city of Tampa a check of $95,610 for a
foundation permit.  Lightning Governor David LeFevre said the
team "probably won't make its stated goal of opening the arena"
in October '95, and the team's architects, Ellerbe Becket of
Kansas City, said construction would take 15-17 months.
Officials at the ThunderDome in St. Petersburg have said they
will help the team book games there in '95 if the team needs a
place to play until the Tampa arena is completed (Ken Koehn,
TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/04).

     Blockbuster Entertainment "gave the public a peek at its
sports and amusement park Tuesday."  The project as it stands
will cost $2B.  Blockbuster Park would include  restaurants, a
water park, campgrounds, a hockey arena and a ballpark.  More
than 600 acres have been "tacked on as a western wing for an
expanded lake, hotels and a golf course."  Outside the park,
major road improvements would be needed to handle the 17,000
vehicles that might "pour through the gates on a weekday evening"
before a Marlins game, according to plans submitted to the South
FL Regional Planning Council.  But there are "two big questions
still unanswered":  1)  Will execs from Viacom, which recently
took over Blockbuster, proceed with the plans?  2)  How much will
taxpayers contribute to construction and operation of the park?
The park would straddle the Dade-Broward county line
(Seeman/Finefrock/Zaneski, MIAMI HERALD, 10/5).
     PUBLIC FINANCING:  Blockbuster said there are many areas in
which they public "may be asked to come up with some cash":  for
the hockey arena, baseball park or a police station.  The company
would also seek help to build $100M in new roads.  Blockbuster's
Dennis O'Shea, who played point man at yesterday's 90 minute
press conference, said the requests for tax money would be
"fair."  Blockbuster's delivery of their plans launches a 12-18
month review process.  After months of negotiations, the Metro-
Dade Commission and the Miramar City Commission will decide if
the park is built.  Blockbuster already controls most of the
property in question, through purchases, options or an
anticipated agreement with Dade County (MIAMI HERALD, 10/5)
     SUMNER LOVE?  Viacom has yet to "publicly commit" to
building the park, but Blockbuster VP Antonio Romero said
Tuesday's filing with the regional planning council was "OK'd by
the company" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/5).

                     

  
 
    
 
      
THE 
        PLAN IN A NUTSHELL
    
  
  
 
    
 
      
PHASE 
        ONE (By 2000)
    
    
 
      
SIZE
    
  
  
 
    
Hockey 
      arena
    
 
      
20,000 
        seats
    
  
  
 
    
Baseball 
      stadium
    
 
      
50,000 
        seats
    
  
  
 
    
Amphitheater
    
 
      
15,000 
        seats
    
  
  
 
    
Movies, 
      theaters, interactive games
    
 
      
10,500 
        seats
    
  
  
 
    
Theme park
    
 
      
215 
        acres
    
  
  
 
    
Golf courses
    
 
      
36 
        holes
    
  
  
 
    
RV vehicle 
      park
    
 
      
360 
        spaces
    
  
  
 
    
Stores
    
 
      
997,000 
        Sq. Ft
    
  
  
 
    
Offices
    
 
      
525,000 
        Sq. Ft
    
  
  
 
    
Industrial 
      space
    
 
      
670,000 
        Sq. Ft
    
  
  
 
    
Hotel/Time 
      Share units
    
 
      
1,250 
        rooms
    
  
  
 
    
Housing
    
 
      
700 
        units
    
  


     PHASE TWO (BY 2005):  A gymnasium, stores, offices,
industrial space, hotel/time share units and housing would be
added (MIAMI HERALD, 10/5).