The city of Denver and Ascent Entertainment "are just
     'inches away' from finalizing a deal" on the proposed Pepsi
     Center, according to Kevin Flynn of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS.
     Flynn: "Ascent wants something in writing today saying the
     deal is imminent, and it appears the firm will get it"
     (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 10/29).  Also in Denver, Stephen
     Keating writes that, although "time is running out," both
     sides said that a final pact "is close at hand."  Still
     being discussed is how much control the city will have over
     the arena and the teams "if something goes wrong" over the
     25-year life of the lease.  Although Ascent Chair Charlie
     Lyons is "measured and careful" on the record, Keating
     writes that "[p]rivately, he is agitated."  Lyons claims
     that if the city does not respond positively by 5:00pm
     today, the lack of a deal "will force" Ascent to "make good
     on" a $140M loan from NationsBank.  Keating: "Ascent said
     that if it cannot tell NationsBank by Friday that the Pepsi
     Center is a done deal, the company will be forced to
     refinance or 'sell assets'" (DENVER POST, 10/29).  

          Nashville stadium officials said that two hundred
     barrels of toxic waste found on the fringes of the Oilers'
     stadium site "shouldn't hold up progress" on the $292M
     facility (NASHVILLE BANNER, 10/27)....The L.A. City Council
     voted 12-1 on final approval for the new downtown sports
     arena.  The action "paves the way for developers to secure
     financing and begin preliminary work on the project." 
     Construction could begin in January (L.A. TIMES, 10/29).

          The Minnesota House and Senate yesterday "rejected
     every effort" to finance a new Twins ballpark, according to
     Whereatt & Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  Although
     legislators agreed to reconvene November 13 for "a last-gasp
     effort," Whereatt & Weiner write that Tuesday's action
     leaves the ballpark "push in a shambles."  The Senate did
     pass one proposal, allowing MN Gov. Arne Carlson to
     negotiate a sale of the team by January, at which point
     stock in the franchise "would then be offered."  However,
     even that bill's sponsor, State Sen. Roy Terwilliger
     "acknowledged" that it was "merely a vehicle to keep the
     stadium effort alive."  State Rep. Ann Rest, a ballpark
     supporter: "We were severely rejected" (Minneapolis STAR
     TRIBUNE, 10/29).  In St. Paul, Ragsdale & Sweeney write that
     the Legislature sent a "clear message to the Twins on
     Tuesday: If you want a new stadium, build it yourself"
     (PIONEER PRESS, 10/29).  Twins Exec VP Kirby Puckett spoke
     to a crowd of "several hundred" Twins fans who rallied for a
     new ballpark at the State Capitol, but the STAR TRIBUNE's
     Conrad de Fiebre writes, "at best, the results were mixed"
     (STAR TRIBUNE, 10/29).
          IN NC: Don Beaver, who heads the ownership group that
     is attempting to purchase the Twins, said that if the NC
     Triad doesn't approve next May's referendum concerning
     funding for a $210M ballpark, he "would look toward
     Charlotte," according to Stan Olson of the CHARLOTTE
     OBSERVER.  Beaver, who "expects" the May vote to win
     approval, said "[i]f the Triad vote fails, Charlotte would
     certainly be next in our plans" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/29).