MARINERS LEASE STALLS; FINANCING, OPENING DATE IN DOUBT

          The failure of the Mariners and King County's Public
     Facilities District to agree on a 20-year lease for a new
     ballpark threatens to delay the '99 opening of the stadium
     and "could jeopardize financing for the entire project,"
     according to David Schaefer of the SEATTLE TIMES.  Although
     both sides "continued to keep quiet about the differences
     keeping the two sides apart,"  PFD Board members publicly
     said if there is no agreement by Monday, the project will
     not be ready for Opening Day '99.  PFD Board Member Shelly
     Yapp: "We've had a (24-month) schedule driven by the
     Mariners.  We have not treated it cavalierly.  I believe the
     Mariners have treated it cavalierly."  Mariners VP Paul
     Isaki: "This is not a lease on an apartment building.  This
     is a 20-year business agreement.  It is a complicated piece
     of business" (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/11).