Angels President Richard Brown met with Anaheim City Manager
Jim Ruth and Stadium Manager Greg Smith this week and "reported
progress and optimism" towards an agreement on a new stadium.
Brown:  "It's never a done deal until it's done.  The fat lady
hasn't sung yet.  But during negotiations (Thursday) I think she
was heard gargling."  Ruth also said after the meetings that "he
would be surprised if an agreement isn't reached within two
weeks."  Meanwhile, the Rams, who previously controlled the
boxes, gave the Angels "approval" to start selling the luxury
boxes at Anaheim Stadium.  Brown reports that sales of the boxes
"should pick up after an agreement is reached on a new stadium"
(Jeff Miller, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/3).

     Plans for a new Mariners stadium "hit a major roadblock" in
the state Legislature Wednesday as a House committee voted 9-4
against the proposal.  House Committee on Trade and Economic
Development Chair Steve Van Luven:  "We are all very concerned
and don't want to lose the Mariners.  It just means we didn't
agree with the wording in this bill."  Among the main components
of the bill were creating a new scratch-off lottery game and
diverting 5% of revenue from the state sales and use taxes on
rental cars toward the stadium.  Mariners VP for Business
Development Paul Isaki:  "This is a marathon, not a sprint.
There are bumps in the road and you have to look at it that way"
(Bruscas & Andersson, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 3/2).

     PepsiCo Inc is reportedly close to signing an agreement with
the owners of the Nuggets for the naming rights to their new
arena, according to this morning's WALL STREET JOURNAL.  The
price is estimated at $68M, "believed to be the largest amount
ever paid" for naming rights.  When asked about the agreement,
Pepsi said that it "has enjoyed a five-year partnership" with the
team, "one that we'd love to build on" (Eleena De Lisser, WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 3/3).

     In a "volatile" Dallas City Council meeting Wednesday,
members learned the city has reportedly offered Mavericks Owner
Don Carter $12.9M in "bond funds left over from earlier bond
projects."  This "surprised" many arena opponents because city
officials have consistently said taxpayers' money "would not be
used on the arena project."  According to City Manager Ted
Benavides, the bond money "would be used for infrastructure
improvements" at the proposed site, southeast of Reunion Arena.
Later in the meeting, council members "resoundingly rejected" a
proposal to place a nonbinding referendum on the May 6 ballot
that would have asked voters "whether the city should build a new
arena" (Sylvia Martinez, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/2).

     Whalers President & GM Jim Rutherford and the team's
business attorney Lou Beer will meet with CT Development
Authority (CDA) officials today to discuss "general proposals and
philosophies" about the team's relationship with the Civic
Center.  The Whalers have an interest in full or partial
management of the facility.  Beer is not sure if the CDA, Ogden
Entertainment and Service America Corp. shares the team's wishes.
Beer:  "We have no right to make them change and we're not
insisting on it.  But clearly a renegotiated deal could mean a
longer commitment for us to stay in Hartford."  Beer did note
that unless the Whalers "astronomically" raise ticket prices --
which is not planned -- the team cannot break even under the
current arrangement with the CDA, even if they sold out every
game.  CDA Exec VP Bob Dixon:  "The CDA is willing to talk and to
continue a dialogue with the Whalers. There are areas such as
advertising where it might give more benefit to each party.  We
are supportive of the Whalers, but we are not in a subsidy
environment" (Jeff Jacobs, HARTFORD COURANT, 3/3).