MARINERS STRIKE DEAL WITH PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT

     The Mariners and Seattle Public Facilities District signed a
20-year agreement which "essentially lets the [club] run the
ballpark and collect most of the money it guarantees, minus
rent," according to Goldsmith & Boren of the SEATTLE POST-
INTELLIGENCER.  The deal "assures" team officials a say in
"virtually every" PFD decision and allows the club to choose the
facility's food concessionaire.  In return, the Mariners, who are
already contributing $45M of the ballpark's $330M cost, have
agreed to guarantee a $20M loan so that construction can begin
and a March '99 completion date be met (SEATTLE POST-
INTELLIGENCER, 9/24).