LONG ISLAND EXEC FLOATS IDEA OF PRIVATIZING COLISEUM

     Nassau County Exec Thomas Gulotta has proposed selling the
Nassau Coliseum to private investors who would be required to
spend an additional $150M to build a new arena and hotel on the
site and convert the current facility to a convention hall.
According to NEWSDAY's Moritsugu & Rau, a "key to pulling off the
privatization will be finding willing investors."  Gulotta said
the Islanders have begun exploring "putting together a consortium
for the project." The Islanders originally wished to increase
capacity from 16,297 to close to 19,000, with an additional level
of luxury boxes and a restaurant.  But during talks on
renovation, the Islanders said the team "could not carry out the
project on its own and would like to explore the option of
creating a consortium."  The county has agreed to seek appraisals
of the arena and property (NEWSDAY, 1/23).