The Cities of Arlington and Irving, TX are ready to lure the
Stars and Mavericks if arena talks break down, according to this
morning's FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM.   Both teams have been
negotiating with the City of Dallas for the last ten months.
Ronnie Carter, son of Mavs' owner Don Carter, said last week the
team hopes to conclude negotiations with Dallas by March 1, if
there is no agreement, the teams will "welcome" talks with
Arlington and Irving.  Saturday, Lewisville, TX, residents
rejected an initiative to raise sales taxes to fund a new arena
for both  teams.  Irving councilman Jack Spurlock says his city
has locations and financing plans: "We are not here playing a
game.  We are ready, we want them and we have everything to
offer" (Ave & Dotson, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/23).

     DC officials visited Cleveland's new Gund Arena yesterday to
get ideas for a new $180M downtown Washington facility before
tomorrow's hearing by the DC Council's Economic Development
Committee.  Officials also revealed that DC's financial
obligation to the project is expected to more than double.
Bullets/Capitals owner Abe Pollin will pay all costs of building
the arena, but the city is responsible for land acquisition and
off-site development, now expected to cost $50M, according to DC
Project Adviser Robert Moore.  Moore said much of the cost
increase is due to underestimated costs in relocating District
office workers currently on the site (Howard Schneider,
WASHINGTON POST, 1/24).  DC Mayor Marion Barry wants to buy
enough land surrounding the project to "make it available to
private investors to build restaurants, office buildings and even
housing."  Barry: "Just think about it -- downtown, with things
happening" (Jeanne Dewey, WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/24).
     PLAY BALL:  RFK Stadium in Washington will not enter a lease
agreement with either the UBL or expansion groups from Northern
VA until one of those groups is awarded a team, according to RFK
stadium General Manager Jim Dalrymple (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON
POST, 1/24).