"Madison Square Garden, out of the boxing business for more
than 18 months, would like to return to boxing in a big way --
with George Foreman's first title defense."  MSG  President Dave
Checketts "floated" the idea to Seth Abraham, President of Time
Warner Sports.  But Bob Arum, Foreman's promoter, quickly shot
down the deal: "George is not going to subject himself to the 11%
state and city taxes you have to pay to fight in New York."  But
Checketts still hopes to land Foreman: "The crowd treats it like
a big event and I know George loves New York" (N.Y. POST, 11/22).
Abraham said the  Astrodome or Superdome are "more appealing" to
Foreman (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 11/22).

     The S.F. Giants extended their lease at Candlestick Park for
five years.  The deal would be in effect through 1999 with an
team option to extend it to 2004.  The team will retain an escape
clause pending the sale of the team, and will also pay up to
$600,000 annually in security cost.  The rent on the facility
will be $1.5 million (Mult.,11/22)

     The sale of the Buccaneers has raised questions on the
viability of Tampa Stadium.  This week the Tampa Sports
Authority, the council that owns and manages Tampa Stadium,
disclosed a $40M renovation plan in an effort to keep make the
team more attractive to local investors.  Officials have also
begun floating possible public funds for renovations.  Today, THE
SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY looks at Tampa Stadium.



  
 
    
STADIUM:
    
Tampa 
      Stadium, Tampa, Florida
  
  
 
    
AGE:
    
Built in 1967
  
  
 
    
CAPACITY:
    
74,301 – 8th highest 
      in the NFL.
  
  
 
    
OWNERSHIP:
    
Owned and managed by 
      the Tampa Sports Authority.
  
  
 
    
LUXURY 
      BOXES:
    
59 – owned and 
      operated by the team.
  
  
 
    
COST:
    
$4.1 million, paid 
      for by bonds in 1966
  
  
 
    
RENOVATION:
    
$10 million renovation 
      in '76, a $1.5M in '90.
  
  
 
    
CONCESSIONS:
    
Volume Service Catering 
      – 50% of sales goes the team during games, 27.5% for non-Buc events.
  
  
 
    
PARKING:
    
11,000 parking spots 
      – $5 a car. Team splits parking revenue with the Authority 50/50 for 
      Buc events. For non-Buc events, team get 27.5%.
  
  
 
    
ADVERTISING:
    
The team pays a $50,000 
      annual fee for advertising rights. They receive all advertising revenue.
  
  
 
    
RENT:
    
$930,000 – 19th 
      highest in the league. The team also pays a $300,000 annual skybox maintenance 
      fee to the Tampa Sports Authority.
  
  
 
    
LEASE:
    
Expires in the 2000.
  


(Source: Barbara Casey, Tampa Sports Authority; rent figure from
a Florida Times-Union article on July 24, 1994).