AIR CANADA CENTRE STILL GROUNDED

     The Raptors have already paid a fine to the Ontario
government for failing to begin construction on their new $180M
Air Canada Centre, and they will face more fines if construction
is not begun by this fall, reports David Israelson of the TORONTO
STAR.  Jay Cross, Development Dir for the 22,500-seat arena, said
the team had wanted to begin work this spring, but one of the
parties responsible for legal work on the land deal was not
finished.  The Raptors have begun negotiating with potential
financiers for the project, with talks geared mostly towards
large U.S. insurance companies and pension funds (TORONTO STAR,
5/22).
     DROP COPPS:  The Raptors will not hold their training camp
in Copps Coliseum this fall, and will choose instead between
Barrie Molson Centre and London's Fanshawe College. Raptors Asst
GM Glen Grunwald cited "conflict with hockey at Copps" as the
reason (Hamilton SPECTATOR, 5/22).