The Panthers and the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority
failed to implement a new arena lease agreement by a Friday
afternoon deadline, thus prompting U.S. District Court Judge
Michael Moore to formally enter an order directing MSEA to allow
the club to use Miami Arena through the '97-98 season, according
to David Lyons of the MIAMI HERALD. Moore also ordered the
authority not to prevent the Panthers from using the facility,
requested the Panthers post a $10,000 bond and said he would
retain jurisdiction over the case. Miami Mayor & MSEA Chair Joe
Carollo, who has vowed to fight Moore's decision, said the
Authority would abide by the ruling through the appeals process.
He also said MSEA attorneys have been directed to retain former
U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey to lead such an effort (MIAMI
HERALD, 8/24). A MIAMI HERALD editorial calls Moore's ruling
"swift and decisive," but notes that "fans and public officials
should not too quickly dismiss" Carollo's warnings about what he
sees as Panthers/Marlins/Dolphins Owner Wayne Huizenga's "grand
design to gain monopoly powers" over the South FL professional
sports scene (MIAMI HERALD, 8/24).
