HOUSTON LOOKING TO HOLD OILERS TO ASTRODOME LEASE

     Houston Mayor Bob Lanier said yesterday the Oilers are
unlikely to buy their way out of a court agreement forcing them
to play in the Astrodome through '97, according to the HOUSTON
CHRONICLE.  City Attorney Gene Locke held talks Tuesday with
Oilers General Counsel Steve Underwood about the possibility of
the team buying itself out of its lease so it can play in TN next
year.  For the team to leave early, it must get permission from
the city, Harris County and Astrodome USA, all of whom promised
in a court settlement not to impede negotiations between the
Oilers and Nashville in return for the Oilers pledging to stay in
the Astrodome through '97.  The CHRONICLE reports the Oilers
publicly say they will stay and honor their lease -- but
privately, Oilers officials see a "game of chicken" over how much
an eventual buyout may be (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/14).