VIKINGS MAY GET NEW METRODOME DEAL SAYS CITY COUNCIL PRES

     Minneapolis City Council President Jackie Cherryhomes said
yesterday that she is willing to open negotiations to rework the
final 16 years of the Vikings' lease at the Metrodome, according
to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  Weiner also
reports that Cherryhomes is "eager to explore the financial
problems" of the Twins, who have a Metrodome escape clause in
'97.  Her statements comes as she is seeking to avoid "continual
threats" from the city's sports franchises and avoid the "crisis
negotiations" such as those that marked the North Stars'
departure in '93 and the near-move of the Timberwolves in '94.
Vikings President Roger Headrick: "That's probably the first
official positive news that we've had from any government
official on this subject after almost two years of discussing it"
(Jay Weiner, Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/15).