A LONG STRANGE TRIP IN WINNIPEG DELAYED ONE MORE DAY

     The Winnipeg City Council's ruling on advancing the Spirit
of Manitoba additional pre-construction arena financing has been
delayed a day with a decision due late this afternoon, according
to the WINNIPEG FREE PRESS.  Nick Martin writes the City Council
decided to wait until this morning to get a start on "a long and
lengthy debate."  Councilman Terry Duguid said Mayor Susan
Thompson probably has the votes needed to give the Spirit "the
green light."  Duguid predicting today's outcome: "Many speeches
and a 9-7 vote."  The current ownership group of the Jets is
meeting today to begin considering a Spirit request for an
extension of the Aug. 15 deadline to have the deal completed to
purchase the team (Nick Martin, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 8/10).
     DON'T BOGART YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:  The Spirit of Manitoba
"pulled out all of the stops" and launched a massive fund-raising
effort to close a C$15M funding gap days before the August 15
deadline.  The group must raise C$80M by the 15th to exercise an
option to purchase the majority shares of the team.  The
ownership group will grant a two-week extension for the Spirit to
complete the purchase of the team after they have received C$80M
in pledges (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 8/10).