The City of Dallas and the Mavericks are working "toward
striking a deal within 30 days" on a proposed new arena in
downtown Dallas, according to this morning's FORT WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM.  In discussions between both sides this week, the
option of renovating 15-year-old Reunion Arena has been
mentioned, according to Dallas Councilman Chris Luna.  Mavericks
owner Don Carter has said in the past he wants a new arena, with
Reunion torn down so it doesn't compete  with that facility.
Mayor Pro Tem Domingo Garcia told the paper "he now favors
renovation."  Claiming that five of the 15 members on the council
agree with him, Garcia says the teams "no longer have us over a
barrel," and that Reunion could be renovated with 48 luxury boxes
and added club seats for $20M (Thomas Korosec, FORT WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM, 1/27).

     A 12-person task force recommended yesterday the renovation
of Cleveland's 63-year old Municipal Stadium rather than build a
new facility for the Browns.  The task force, appointed by Mayor
Michael White, previously estimated that renovation would cost
about $130M with interest, while a new stadium would cost $220M,
plus interest and costs of land acquisition and infrastructure.
This recommendation is not binding, the task force will present a
proposal that will include a financing plan by mid-February.
Joseph Roman, chair of the staff assisting the task force:
"Renovation will give us a great facility, and it is clearly the
low-cost alternative."  The state is expected to finance "only a
portion of the renovation."  These funds could come through a
plan by Governor George Voinovich to help Cleveland and other
cities in the state fund large capital projects through a penny-
a-can beverage  tax (Phillips & Koff, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER,
1/27).

     New Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer and his two sons met with two
members of the Tampa Stadium Authority (TSA) yesterday on plans
to replace or renovate Tampa Stadium.   A committee is expected
to be announced today to study the stadium issue and make a
recommendation to the TSA.  Meanwhile, Socrates Babacas, an
investor who failed in a bid to by the Bucs, says he wants to
build the team a 70,000-seat retractable domed stadium without
using taxpayer money.  Babacas offered "Golden Greek Dome" as a
potential name for the facility.  TSA Exec Dir Rick Nafe, noting
Babacas would get profits from the facility: "I don't think
Malcolm Glazer and family will go for it" (Walker & Henderson,
TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/27).

     The Hornets are not satisfied with the number of skyboxes in
the Charlotte Coliseum and will consider building a new arena if
the city does not cooperate on a plan to help the team "remain
competitive," according to this morning's CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.  In
a January 10 letter to Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot, team
President Spencer Stolpen "laid out" three options: 1) The
Hornets would invest $30M to renovate the facility in exchange
for an exclusive lease and control over the booking, management
and revenues from parking and concessions; 2) The team could buy
the building from the city for $60-65M; 3) The team could build a
new 24,000-seat, $88.8M arena in uptown Charlotte with help from
a major Charlotte bank "believed to be NationsBank."  Stolpen
said the team has commissioned "several studies" on the value of
the Coliseum and cost of "replicating" the building.  Team and
city officials have been "quietly discussing" the issue since
last spring; a final proposal could come within the next two
months.  The team's lease runs through the '96-97.  City
officials are concerned that giving the Hornets too much
influence could "hurt the city's ability to attract other major
events" (Mildenberg, Chapman & Bonnell, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
1/27).