NHL TELLS SPIRIT THEY MUST RAISE MORE TO BUOY JETS

     The NHL "has questioned key aspects of the Spirit of
Manitoba's business plan" to purchase the Jets, and demanded that
the group come up with all of the necessary C$111M by August 15,
according to the WINNIPEG FREE PRESS.  John Douglas & Stevens
Wild report that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman faxed Spirit Chair
Alan Sweatman a letter dated July 25 informing the group that it
"is lacking" in five areas: whether donors will have charitable
tax status; financing; environmental reviews for the new arena
site; pending court challenges; and questions of whether naming
rights and ad revenue from the new arena will go to the team.  In
addition, Bettman said Spirit has "significantly overstated"
league-generated revenues in its plan and "suggested the private-
sector group's operating costs are suspect."  NHL officials say
Spirit "has overestimated revenues" by C$2M and has
underestimated players salaries by as much as C$7M a year over
the next three years" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 7/30).