HOUSTON, PART III: NASHVILLE SAYS OILERS ARE WORTH IT

     Nashville Metro Finance Dir Joe Huddleston answered
"absolutely" to the question of whether the Oilers are worth a
$292.2M investment.  Huddleston released a study by KPMG Peat
Marwick that shows an NFL team would generate $8M in taxes
annually, $65.4M in spending and add 1,350 full-time jobs.
Huddleston:  "People should use their common sense and look at
those cities that have added pro sports.  I challenge anyone who
does that to say there was no economic benefit."  But two
economists were skeptical on the direct economic benefits.  Both
Vanderbilt's John Siegfried and Smith's Andrew Zimbalist said any
multiplier effect is less with pro teams than other businesses
(TENNESSEAN, 10/21).