HOUSTON BUSINESS LEADERS MAY BUY NEW TEAM IF OILERS BOLT

     Houston Mayor Bob Lanier and Harris County Judge Robert
Eckels said Monday that local business leaders may try and buy an
NFL franchise to replace the Oilers if the leaves early for
Tennessee, according to the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Lanier and Eckels
said a new open-air stadium could be built on the Astrodome
grounds for $125M in private funds, and with help from tax money,
a retractable roof could be added for $85M.  Sources say before
prospective owners seriously weigh bringing another team to
Houston, they want to make sure a stadium deal can be done.
Lanier has offered the Oilers possible deals for a retractable
roof stadium and an open-air stadium, but team owner Bud Adams
has refused citing his deal with Nashville (John Williams,
HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/16).  In Nashville, an estimated 500 people
participated in the taping of "Live the Dream," a TV special
designed to rally support for PSL sales.  Organizers blamed
inclement weather (Robin Hall, TENNESSEAN, 1/12).