THINK THIS FUELS ASCENT'S FIRE FOR A NEW ARENA?

          A power outage darkened some sections of McNichols
     Arena before and during last night's Game One of the Red
     Wings-Avalanche playoff series and periodically affected the
     ice surface, according to Niyo & Lambert of the DETROIT
     NEWS.  Arena manager Gary Lane said one of McNichols' three
     electrical substations blew a half-hour before game time --
     possibly as a result of a thunderstorm -- and a small
     electrical fire started in the basement but was "quickly
     extinguished."  Two "chillers" that cool the ice were
     inoperable for about 90 minutes, and "several sections of
     the ice surface appeared to be melting during the second
     period."  The ice was restored to normal for the third
     period (DETROIT NEWS, 5/16).