MEGAPLEX LOOKING TO GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH SPECIAL TAXES

     MA state officials behind plans for a South Boston megaplex
stated yesterday that they could "cover at least half" of the
estimated $80M annual cost by levying new "fees or taxes" on
hotel rooms, rental cars, airplane tickets and other tourist
industries, according to the BOSTON GLOBE.  It is still unclear
whether Gov. William Weld will support this measure in light of
his pledge to veto any megaplex that contained what he considered
to be tax increases (Peter Howe, BOSTON GLOBE, 5/31).  Naming
rights for the megaplex promise to generate as much as $15M to
$20M over 10 years, according to Steff Gelston of the BOSTON
HERALD.  Officials from both John Hancock and Reebok have stated
they aren't interested in the sponsorship.  David D'Alessandro, a
senior exec with John Hancock, even said he can't imagine why
national companies like Gillette or ITT Sheraton would be
interested.  D'Alessandro: "Any national player who decides to do
it is doing it out of ego and not out of business sense" (Steff
Gelston, BOSTON HERALD, 5/31).