Manitoba Entertainment Complex Inc. was "granted the rights"
by the Winnipeg city council to build a new $110M arena, but with
a "few conditions."  MEC must come up with a plan to frees
taxpayers from the 50-50 loss sharing deal between the province
and the city, that expires in '97.  Those losses could be more
than $40M over two years.  Some council members were concerned
that by approving the business plan guidelines, the council "was
in effect handing over the $12 million parcel of land" and
"committing itself to servicing it for another $12 million."
And, because the city and the province already own 36% of the
Jets, "they warned that wouldn't be the end of public
contributions."  A spokesperson for MEC said "the deal is far
from done" (Scott Edmonds, CP/Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/2).  Jets
Owner Barry Shenkarow "says there's only one thing that can kill
the arena deal in Winnipeg.  Revenue sharing.  Or lack of same."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told the WINNIPEG SUN:  "It makes
it too political when you say it's a revenue-sharing issue.  It
may be and it may not be.  I think what we have to do is figure
out what the problem is, figure out how to address it, then
address it. ... But this is a front-burner issue" (Ed Willes,
WINNIPEG SUN, 2/2).

     This week the Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER ran a four-part series
on the future on the Browns, called "A Big League Town:  The Cost
of Staying in the NFL."
     SUNDAY:  Part I examined the value of the Browns to the city
and area in light of Owner Art Modell's comments that he may have
to sell the Browns if he doesn't receive a new or renovated
stadium.  On the question of whether the investment is "worth it
in terms of community prestige and return on the dollar,"
economists "see it as part boon, part boondoggle" (Bonnie
DeSimone, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER, 1/29).     MONDAY:  Part II
examined the ways municipalities have handled stadium
construction, noting that for some cities "being competitive can
be expensive."  Renovation successes in Jacksonville, Seattle and
Tampa, along with new stadium projects in Miami, St. Louis and
Charlotte, are featured.  (Steven Koff, Cleveland PLAIN DEALER,
1/30).
     TUESDAY:  Part III compared Municipal Stadium to other
"state of the art" stadiums around the NFL.  Due to the fact that
it "falls short in dozens of ways," renovations will cost an
estimated $130M for a "massive internal makeover"  (Steven Litt,
Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/31).
     WEDNESDAY:  Part IV examines potential sources of money to
pay for a new stadium.  The Task Force, which hopes to deliver a
recommendation to Cleveland Mayor Michael White by mid-February,
has "declined to say whether they have any favorite financing
plans."  Some options the Task Force is considering:  A regional
stadium authority that could levy sales taxes; a Cleveland
parking lot tax; a surcharge on Browns home game tickets; a
statewide "soda pop tax"; and a capital improvements
appropriation from the state.  The chosen revenue source "will
likely be used to support issuance of economic development
revenue bonds" (Stephen Phillips, Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/1).
     ADDENDUM:  A proposal for a "Sports Mart" attached to the
renovated Municipal Stadium is now "in the hands" of the Task
Force, according to Stan Bullard of CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS.
The Mart would include a sports mall, a hotel, and a sports
medicine clinic.  It "would make the stadium more than just a
home for football games" and could produce profits to help repay
bonds sold to finance the stadium renovations (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND
BUSINESS, 1/30-2/5 issue).

     Oilers Owner Bud Adams had discussed the idea of a new
publicly-financed, state-of-the-art domed facility for his team
in downtown Houston or in the surrounding area.  But lack of
public support killed the proposal in late September.  Today, we
look at the Astrodome and their lease with the Oilers -- No. 29
in our series of 30 profiles.


  
 
    
 
      
STADIUM:
    
    
 
      
Astrodome, 
        Houston, TX
    
  
  
 
    
AGE:
    
Completed in 1965
  
  
 
    
COST:
    
Original 
      cost of $31.6M. Approximately $100M additional has been spent on the Astrodome 
      and accompanying Astrohall and Astro areana improvements.
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
    
MANAGEMENT:
    
Astrodome 
      is operated by Astrodome USA, a sister company of the Astros, which manages 
      the facility under a lease with Harris County, TX.
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
    
CAPACITY:
    
59,905 -- 3rd lowest 
      in the NFL.
  
  
 
    
LUXURY 
      SEATS:
    
65 "Columbia" 
      Suites, 52 Sky boxes. Columbia Suites and Sky Boxes are controlled for football 
      by the Oilers who operate and retain all revenues.
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
    
PARKING:
    
Parking 
      for 25,000 cars -- $4-5 a car. Oilersretain 6,500 spaces and receive all 
      revenue. Astrodome USA retains 18,500 spaces and all revenue.
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
    
CONCESSIONS:
    
Handled 
      by ARA. Team receives 46.5% of Astrodome USA's net revenues for all football 
      games.
  
  
 
  
 
    
ADVERTISING:
    
Astrodome 
      USA retains all revenues from fixed advertising. Oilers receive 50% of Diamond 
      Vision Video revenue.
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
    
GAME-DAY:
    
Astrodome 
      pays for utilities, parking and traffic personnel. Oilers pay all other 
      game-day expenses.
  
  
 
  
 
    
MAINTENANCE:
    
County pays all capital 
      maintenance/improvements.
  
  
 
    
RENT:
    
Maximum 
      rent at current prices and capacity is $1,650,000.00 
  
  
 
  
 
    
LEASE:
    
Expires in '97.
  
  
 
    
PUBLIC $:
    
Team receives no governmental 
      subsidies.
  

(Source: Mike McClure, Oilers Exec VP).

     Howard Rawlings, chair of the MD House Committee on
Appropriations, has offered public funding for a "Jack Kent Cooke
Harbordome" if the Redskins Owner were to move his team to
Baltimore.  Cooke apparently is not interested.  Rawlings' offer
includes the Maryland Stadium Authority building a domed stadium
adjacent to Oriole Park.  Cooke responded that although Rawlings
made a "very persuasive case," he is "virtually committed" to
another location in the Baltimore-DC corridor (Jon Morgan,
Baltimore SUN, 2/2).