ADD K.C. TO LIST OF NHL/NBA SUITORS WITH NEW ARENA

     A planned expansion of Kemper Arena in Kansas City "hit a
surprising snag" as business leaders persuaded the City Council
to delay further work on the project and instead consider a new
downtown arena.  A new facility would cost up to $200M and
possibly be home to an NHL or NBA franchise.  The Council
appeared ready to finalize a $17.3M expansion, and some say any
more of a delay on Kemper's expansion threatens K.C.'s ability to
complete the project for the '97 Big 12 basketball tournament.
Proponents for a new arena said the business community would
"take the lead" in trying to secure an NHL or NBA ownership group
(Chris Lester, K.C. STAR, 4/17).  Columnist Jonathan Rand calls a
new arena a "mistake," as the city lacks the "corporate presence
that franchises in other markets count on" (K.C. STAR, 4/17).