The Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) has become the
     "preeminent racing facility in the country, second perhaps
     only to Indy, and that's primarily on historical value,"
     according to Steve Goldberg of CHARLOTTE magazine.  The
     development of the track has "permanently changed the
     spectator and business sides of racing," creating a "new
     growth-industry base for the region with significant
     economic impact."  The success "is directly attributed" to
     parent company Speedway Motorsports "high-octave mixture of
     innovation and emulation," and since '75, track owner Bruton
     Smith and CMS President Humpy Wheeler have spent "more than"
     $200M on improvements.  Wheeler says the key to CMS' success
     is the "three T's: tickets, traffic and toilets."  According
     to a '96 study by UNC-Charlotte, CMS "is the nucleus of a
     local industry that has grown over" 48% in the past five
     years.  In the area, 135 motorsports-related firms have
     created 1,790 jobs, with a payroll of $71.4M and $207M in
     direct expenditures, and an additional 3,347 jobs and "some"
     $258M in indirect expenditures (CHARLOTTE, 10/97).

          The CoreStates Center will add a cigar bar to its Red
     Bell Brewery and Pub in November.  The bar will be for
     members only, with membership ranging from $300-400 for
     season-ticket and premium-seating customers, and around $500
     for the general public (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/1).
     ....The MLB Giants, the city of S.F. and Baykeeper, an
     environmental group, announced they have negotiated an
     agreement to increase environmental monitoring at the site
     of the Giants' new ballpark.  That "removes the final
     obstacle" for the new park, and groundbreaking is planned
     for mid-November (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/1).

          Top Dallas officials met Tuesday with Stars and
     Mavericks officials, "suggesting to some that the parties
     may be close to striking an arena deal," according to Todd
     Gillman of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS.  Dallas City Council
     members said the city "seems to be emerging victorious after
     days of meetings" and Stars Owner Tom Hicks "reinforced that
     belief."  Hicks: "We're closer than we've ever been before. 
     I think if things are going to come together, they're going
     to come together in the next few days."  Mavs Owner Ross
     Perot Jr. met with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, and a "high-
     level Cowboys official" said Perot wanted to discuss a
     possible joint arena-football stadium with Jones. Stars and
     Mavs execs "called the idea unlikely" (MORNING NEWS, 10/1).

          The Orioles and the MD Stadium Authority (MSA) "appear
     to be on another collision course as the state agency moves
     forward this week with plans for a Niketown-type
     entertainment complex at Camden Yards -- a development the
     team bitterly opposes," according to Jon Morgan of the
     Baltimore SUN.  The MSA "is expected" to issue a "formal
     request for ideas to develop the land -- now a parking lot  
     -- between the Ravens' and Orioles' stadium."  The MSA wants
     to "incorporate a parking garage into the development and
     pay for it with revenue" from the complex.  But the Orioles,
     while "eager to replace parking lost to the construction of
     the Ravens' stadium, prefer a parking garage be built across
     the street," on a site now occupied by businesses.  Orioles
     attorney Alan Rifkin said that the club would "take legal
     action to block the entertainment complex," but the MSA said
     that the team "cannot prevent development on the state-owned
     site as long as it does not interfere with baseball games"
     (Jon Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 10/1).