The MD Senate votes today whether to spend $258M on new
stadiums for Baltimore's NFL team and the Redskins, according to
the WASHINGTON POST.  Legislative leaders predict there will be
enough votes to approve money for both facilities (Charles
Babington, WASHINGTON POST, 3/13).

     One night after the Canadiens played their final game at the
fabled Forum, the facility was turned over to sports memorabilia
collectors who spent over $300,000 bidding on Forum fixtures,
according to today's Montreal GAZETTE.  Approximately 1,000 fans
paid $35 each to bid on items ranging from championship banners
to penalty-box benches.  An equal number shelled out $5 just to
watch.  All proceeds will go to the United Way and a fund for
retired Habs players.  Samples:  C$31,000 for the '23-'24 Stanley
Cup Championship banner; C$20,000 for the nets from Monday's
game; C$3,400 for lockers used by current players; $1,800 for a
turnstile; and C$7,500 for the puck used to score the final Forum
goal (Peggy Curran, Montreal GAZETTE, 3/13).  The Hamilton
SPECTATOR reports one of the building's hot-dog grills sold for
C$1,000 (Hamilton SPECTATOR, 3/13).

     Before committing to a $17M expansion of Kemper Arena, the
K.C. Downtown Arena Task Force has hired three local architecture
firms to combine efforts to study the possibility of a major
sports arena downtown, according to this morning's K.C. STAR.
The task force wants the firms --HOK, Ellerbe Becket and HNTB --
to complete the study within 45 days.  Talks center on keeping
the Big 12 basketball championship in K.C. (Diane Stafford, K.C.
STAR, 3/13).

     The NCAA is considering moving its HQs and Orlando sports
leaders are ready to recruit, according to Gene Yasuda of the
ORLANDO SENTINEL.  Orlando Area Sports Commission officials said
they have "begun courting" the NCAA, which is deciding whether it
should remain in Overland Park, KS (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/13).

     Despite a February '96 goal to begin construction on the
team's new arena, the Raptors have yet to apply for a building
permit, according to the FINANCIAL POST.  Jamie Wayne reports the
team has not provided the Toronto Buildings and Inspection Dept.
with the required C$1.2M in permit fees, nor the architectural
plans for the facility.  Toronto Solicitor Dennis Perlin:  "Even
if we proceed through our normal work schedule, we're now looking
at May before all the agreements could be done -- unless somebody
says 'step on the gas pedal'" (FINANCIAL POST, 3/12).

     PA Gov. Tom Ridge's Sports and Exposition Facilities Task
Force heard from local officials and national stadium experts
yesterday on options for building new facilities in Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 3/13)....A two-hour hearing
was held yesterday on a lawsuit brought by the Tiger Stadium Fan
Club to prevent city money from being used for a new facility for
the Tigers (DETROIT NEWS, 3/13)....The Atlanta City Council could
discuss demolition plans for Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium today.
The facility is expected to be razed once the Braves move into
the new Olympic stadium next year (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
3/13).... Alameda County supervisors said they will scrap a deal
to keep the Warriors in Oakland unless minority and local-owned
businesses are guaranteed contracts (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/13).