OH HO, IT'S MAGIC, WHO'S EYEING A NEW ARENA

          Magic President & CEO Bob Vander Weide "left little
     doubt" on Friday that the team "expects a replacement" for
     the Orlando Arena, "possibly within seven years," according
     to Dan Tracy of the ORLANDO SENTINEL.  The team's current
     lease at the arena, under which they pay the city $446,500 a
     year, ends after next season.  While Vander Weide said that
     the team "intends to honor" the agreement and "exercise an
     additional five-year rental option," he "would not commit"
     the Magic to the eight-year old facility "beyond" the 2004
     season.  While Vander Wiede "would not discuss who might
     pay," for a new arena, Tracy wrote that Orlando and Orange
     County officials have been "adamant in saying they will not
     spend tax dollars" on such a project.  The arena still has a
     debt of "about" $40M, which will not be paid off fully until
     2019.  The team released a study showing that renovation
     "would not bring in extra cash" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/8).