Hoteliers in Boston said yesterday that they will
"reluctantly back a hotel tax hike to help finance a new
convention center, but not if a stadium is part of the plan,"
according to this morning's BOSTON HERALD.  The group prefers a
"shelf tax" -- which would go into effect only if the convention
center failed to generate enough new revenue to cover costs --
rather than a direct increase.  Greater Boston Convention and
Visitors Bureau President Patrick Moscaritolo:  "The industry
wants to be responsive and is willing to talk about alternative
financing plans, but they all believe the domed stadium element
benefits the sports and entertainment industries, not the
convention industry" (Phil Primack, BOSTON HERALD, 5/3).
     MEGAPLEX NOT SO LUCRATIVE?  Price Waterhouse consultant
David Peterson has offered state megaplex commission officials
evidence that the facility would "break even at best and would
more likely fall substantially short of paying for itself."  The
report indicates that the convention center linked to a domed
stadium would cost between $51-74M a year in debt service, yet
would only generate $53M a year in increased tax revenue.
Commission Co-chair Kevin Fitzgerald said Peterson did nothing to
cause the panel to abandon its efforts on behalf of the megaplex,
but others have concerns.  Marisa Lago, chief of economic
development for Boston Mayor Tom Menino:  "Today's information
was certainly sobering."  While it appears likely that plans for
a "stand-alone" convention center will proceed, the future for
the megaplex is less certain because most of the football revenue
would be generated by local residents who don't bring new money
to the state (Richard Kindleberger, BOSTON GLOBE, 5/2).
     COMMISSION SEEKS PR FIRM:  The megaplex commission is
looking for a public relations firm to promote it.  The four
reportedly being considered:  Rasky & Co., Regan Communications,
Burnieika, Bearfield and Emerson, and Copley Communications (Joan
Vennochi, BOSTON GLOBE, 5/3).

     Officials from Pinellas County and St. Petersburg are still
"far apart" on how to come up with $20M of the $50M needed to
renovate the ThunderDome.  County commissioners, who are facing a
Tuesday deadline to decide how to pay the $20M, met yesterday to
try to agree on as many as eight financing options proposed by
county and city leaders.  Nothing was agreed upon, however, and
the commissioners will meet again on Friday (Carlos Moncada,
TAMPA TRIBUNE, 5/3).
     PSL'S COULD BE COMING TO TAMPA:  The Greater Tampa Chamber
of Commerce's stadium task force said yesterday that it is
"seriously considering" using permanent seat licenses to help pay
for stadium improvements.  According to Tampa Sports Authority
Chair Chuck Davis, the "major advantage" of using PSL's would be
be to decreases taxpayers' share of stadium improvements.  Costs
for renovations are estimated at $100M (Jim Kenyon, TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 5/3).  In wanting to use PSL's, the task force also
expressed interest in hiring sports marketing consultant Max
Muhleman to implement the plan.  According to Muhleman, the "key"
question would be "not whether the stadium is new or improved,
but whether fans can get a 'seat and entertainment opportunity
superior to what they have' now."  Other key considerations are
the cost of the improvements and the community's ability to sign
Bucs owner Glazer to a long-term lease.  According to the TSA's
Davis, Glazer "might be more willing to commit himself to a 30-
year lease at a new stadium than at a renovated facility"
(Richard Danielson, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 5/3).

     Oilers owner Bud Adams, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and
Rockets minority owner Gary Bradley were all in Austin Monday to
show support for a measure sceheduled to ge before the Senate
that would allow cities to designate enterprise zones that would
direct tax revenues toward building a new stadium or arena.  TX
State Sen. Royce West, the sponsor of the bill, withheld it from
consideration Monday as he was concerned about getting enough
support for a floor vote.  West:  "It allows us to expand out
sports venues, and more people will attend them. ... Take the
Oilers and the Cowboys, they don't have sufficient capacity to
host a Super Bowl.  If you look at the last Super Bowl in
Florida, that state gained benefits of $264 million.  Those are
dollars I want to see in Texas."  In addition, officials of the
Rangers and Astros have voiced opposition to the measure.  West
hoped to see it before the Senate this week.  State Rep. Curtis
Seidlits is sponsoring a similar bill which is still pending
before the House (John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/2).