COURT VOTES TO ACCEPT OILERS' $5.25M BUYOUT OFFER

          In Houston, Harris County "closed its books" on the
     Oilers as Commissioners Court voted 4-1 to accept the team's
     $5.25M buyout offer, "removing one of the last obstacles" to
     the team's playing in TN this fall, according to Stinebaker
     & Williams in the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  The offer included
     $3.75M in eight payments over four years, as well as the
     team's $1.5M practice facility.  The team must still reach
     agreement with the city of Houston and Astrodome USA, holder
     of the lease at the county-owned Astrodome, one year before
     the Oilers' ten-year lease expires.  County Judge Robert
     Eckels said he expects "little difficulty" in the Oilers'
     negotiations with the city and "hopes for a relatively easy
     settlement" with Astrodome USA (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/26).