PANTHERS ARENA PICTURE CLEARING IN LAUDERDALE?

     A two-cent hotel tax to raise money for a new arena in Ft.
Lauderdale received support from all seven Broward County
Commissioners yesterday, according to this morning's MIAMI
HERALD.  The HERALD's Tanfini & Rafinski report the "next hurdle"
comes Thursday when Commissioner Suzanne Gunzburger will sound
out hoteliers at a Tourist Development Council meeting.
According to Dir Anne Martone, the Hotel Motel Association
"opposes" the tax.  In addition to support from innkeepers, Ft.
Lauderdale City Manager George Hanbury said Panthers Owner Wayne
Huizenga "also must commit" to a $15M, 30-year lease at the
arena, which would be built on FL Dept of Transportation parking
lots at Broward Boulevard and Interstate 95 (MIAMI HERALD,
10/24).