HEAT TO CONSIDER LONGER LEASE AT MIAMI ARENA

     In a letter to Miami Mayor Steve Clark, Heat Managing
Partner Micky Arison spelled out conditions for an extension that
would keep the team at Miami Arena for two years after the
current lease runs out in '98.  In the letter, Arison told Clark
an extension "would give us sufficient time to ensure that a more
permanent solution could be found for the Miami Heat staying
downtown."  However, in an interview in today's MIAMI HERALD,
Arison did not say that an arena upgrade was the solution:  "I've
tried to get some breathing room so the Heat can find the right
long-term solution.  I have not come to any conclusions.  I've
met with people and not one person believes refurbishing the
arena is the right way to go.  Everyone is saying we should work
towards a new state-of-the-art arena."  Clark wants to keep the
team in a renovated Miami Arena (Karen Branch, MIAMI HERALD,
2/23).