GILES PREFERS DOWNTOWN SITE OVER OTHER OPTIONS FOR BALLPARK

          Phillies Chair Bill Giles said publicly for the first
     time on Friday that his "personal preference" for a new
     baseball stadium was at Broad and Spring Garden Streets near
     Center City, according to Gary Miles of the PHILADELPHIA
     INQUIRER.  Giles is also considering two sites east of
     Veterans Stadium, but he said of his downtown preference:
     "It would do a lot more for the city, in regard to
     restaurants, shops, and hotels.  There are a lot of costs
     that are unknown.  The land acquisition is the biggest
     unknown.  That will vary as to what site we put it on." 
     Giles put the cost of the stadium and its related facilities
     at about $210M but added that "land costs and other issues"
     could push it to $300M.  Asked what the chances were that
     the park would eventually be built, he said: "Fifty-fifty"
     (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/28).