COME HEAR UNCLE AL'S BAND: TAX MAN MAY BE IN NFL PSL BATTLE

     Among the details of the "last-minute changes" in the deal
returning the Raiders to Oakland are mechanisms which could cost
Oakland area taxpayers if the NFL takes action to absorb Raiders
PSL revenue, according to the OAKLAND TRIBUNE.  The Raiders want
to use PSL revenue to cover Oakland's stadium improvement bonds.
The NFL sees the PSLs as part of the team's ticket revenue which
is subject to league rules requiring teams to share 34% of their
ticket receipts with visiting teams.  Under the revised
agreement, the Coliseum will be required to side with the Raiders
in any court action between the Raiders and the NFL on the issue.
Of the $63.9M the team plans to raise through the sale of PSLs,
the Raiders will be responsible for paying 34% on the first
$49.9M of PSL revenue, or $16.9M.  The Coliseum will be
responsible for paying 34% on the remaining $14M, or $4.76M.  The
Coliseum will also be liable for the first $600,000 in legal fees
to defend any lawsuit.  If the Coliseum then has "inadequate
revenues" from PSLs to pay off the bonds, it will have to "tap
city and county tax offers" (Stacey Wells & David Li, OAKLAND
TRIBUNE, 8/10). Another aspect of the last-minute deal assures
Davis $3.8M "from this month's weak-selling pre-season games and
increases the risk for taxpayers," according to Barry Witt in the
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS.  Witt notes ticket sales, as of Tuesday,
left a difference of $1.8M between what has been guaranteed and
what has been sold.  Any shortfall will be covered by bonds, and
ultimately, "will be absorbed by taxpayers."  Coliseum Board
President George Vukasin said the deal is "a little risky," but
added, "the most important thing was we needed to get the tenant
signed, sealed and delivered on Monday, and that was
accomplished" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/10).
     A GOOD PLACE FOR A TRIBUTE TO GARCIA?  The Coliseum hired
L.A.-based Tutor-Saliba Corp. as general contractor, Cordell
Corp. as project manager, and Kansas City, MO-based HNTB
Architects Engineers Planners as designers in the Coliseum
renovation efforts (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 8/10).