HEAT MAY BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE AS ARENA LAND LEASE REJECTED

          Metro-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas yesterday "rejected most
     of" Miami's terms to lease 59 acres of waterfront land to
     the county and asked County Manager Armando Vidal to "scout
     other sites" for a new Heat arena, according to Karen Branch
     in the MIAMI HERALD.  Penelas is "optimistic" that a
     "conclusion" can be reached, but the county "is trying to
     nail down details quickly because the Heat had hoped to
     begin construction of the new arena by this fall."  The
     Heat's current lease at Miami Arena ends after next season,
     "and the team has had no luck in negotiating an extension." 
     For a new lease, the Heat will have to negotiate with arena-
     manager Leisure Management Int'l, which is partially owned
     by Wayne Huizenga. Penelas: "Because this has dragged on for
     so long, the Heat may have to play in another city at least
     one full year after the '98-99 season" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/17).