STADIUM NOTES

     In DC, Andrew Cain notes that with the Astros staying in
Houston, supporters of Virginia baseball "are divided" over
whether to "go to bat" for a stadium financing package when the
Virginia legislature convenes January 8.  VA State Rep. Vincent
Callahan: "If you don't have either a team or a site, the chance
of the legislation passing is dubious" (WASHINGTON TIMES,
11/15)....In the Rockets latest bid to opt out of their Summit
lease, Houston businessman and Rockets supporter Jim McIngvale
said the team would pay Aeros Owner Chuck Watson, who owns the
lease, $11.6M in two equal installments over three years.  If and
when a new arena is built, the Rockets would pay Watson $1M
annually for 20 years.  That totals $31.6M to get out of the
lease.  Aeros GM Steve Patterson dismissed the offer, saying it
is "nowhere close" to being worth that, rather the inflation-
adjusted value is $17.01M (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/15).