KINGS OWNER NEGOTIATES TENTATIVE LOAN TO STAY IN SACRAMENTO

          NBA Kings Owner Jim Thomas has negotiated a "tentative"
     $70M loan with the city of Sacramento to keep the team in
     town, according to Delsohn & Bizjak in this morning's
     SACRAMENTO BEE.  The loan, which still requires City Council
     approval, would allow Thomas to retire all his debt on Arco
     Arena, "most if not all" his debt on the Kings and transfer
     arena ownership to the city after 30 years.  The council
     agreed last night to give Thomas and city negotiators the OK
     to put the proposal, which has the city selling low-interest
     bonds to raise the money, into contract form.  While Thomas
     would sign a deal to keep the team in town for 30 years, he
     would have an earlier out if the team was losing attendance
     and money -- and if he paid back the $70M and its interest. 
     Thomas also agreed to charge ticket fees of $2 for Kings
     games and $1 for other events, with a portion of revenues
     going to a city account to be used if not enough money is
     raised to pay off the $70M loan (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/29).