MANITOBA ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX REACHES THEIR GOAL

     This morning, the Manitoba Entertainment Complex Inc., will
announce that it has "nearly reached its marketing goals and
plans for a new arena in Winnipeg is moving ahead quickly."  MEC
spokesperson John Leowen refused to say how many club seats have
been sold in the five weeks since the marketing program began,
but sources at MEC put the number at around 1,200.  The goal was
1,500, but MEC member Bob Silver said the group "raised far more
money than they had projected before the marketing project had
begun."  MEC still needs to meet with the city on a proposed
site.  Loewen said the group preferred the Forks, a sight just
outside the city, but could live with a downtown location (Scott
Taylor, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 12/8).