SABATES THREATENS SUIT WITHOUT ARENA AGREEMENT BY FRIDAY

          In Raleigh, the potential NHL ownership group led by
     Charlotte businessman Felix Sabates "raised the stakes"
     yesterday, "threatening" to sue Centennial Authority for its
     costs in pursuing the NHL bid if its "ultimatum" to get a
     "suitable lease agreement" for a proposed arena by tomorrow
     goes "unheeded," according to Willams & Alexander in the
     Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER.  Sabates said his group has spent
     $500,000, including the $100,000 expansion application fee,
     and added that if the area were selected by the NHL, it
     would be granted a "provisional franchise" and the owners
     would be required to put up $15M.  Sabates: "That money
     would be non-refundable.  Think we're going to take a chance
     on that?"  The Centennial Authority said it is sending a
     contingent to meet with Sabates in Daytona, FL tomorrow,
     where his racing team is preparing for Sunday's Daytona 500. 
     The NHL Board of Governors is expected to meet Tuesday in
     New York to discuss expansion bids (NEWS & OBSERVER, 2/13).