A'S FILE $48M CLAIM OVER LOSS OF FINANCES AT COLISEUM

          The A's have "quietly slapped" the city of Oakland and
     Alameda County with a $48M claim over the renovation of the
     Coliseum, according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE. 
     The claim, sent yesterday to lawyers for the city and
     county, includes 23 demands and "comes at a time when the
     team's future in Oakland is already in question" following
     "unsuccessful talks" between team and stadium execs.  Among
     the demands are $12M for "lost ticket sales allegedly
     caused" by the elimination of bleacher seats, $12M in "lost
     'club seat' revenues," $9.5M for "lost ticket, food and
     merchandising sales" from diamond-level seats that were not
     built after disputes between the team and contractors, and
     $5M for "lost 'general attendance'" during the '96 season,
     which the A's claim was caused by constant renovation.  A's
     execs were unavailable for comment, and Matier & Ross write
     the case is "certain to fuel speculation about the team's
     future" in Oakland.  Under their lease, the A's have until
     July 1 to "extend their stay" until 2004 or "exercise a
     year-to-year clause," which would allow them to "sell or
     move the team within two years" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/22).