In a "sign of confidence" over the Bengals' stadium
     deal, the Hamilton County commissioners Monday "tentatively
     approved" a $73M bond issuance to help fund the new
     riverfront facility, according to Barry Horstman of the
     CINCINNATI POST.  The commissioners authorized a team of
     seven bond underwriting firms to proceed with plans to begin
     selling the bonds next week as the first installment toward
     the $400M-plus football stadium project.  Horstman wrote,
     however, that "the commissioners' action -- a scaled back
     version of an initial" $323M bond plan -- "reveals caution
     and concerns related to the slim possibility that the
     stadium deal could collapse" (CINCINNATI POST, 1/6).
                                                                 

          Due to a conflict at the SkyDome with the Blue Jays,
     the Raptors will host the Sixers in their season finales at
     the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton on April 19 (TORONTO SUN,
     1/7)....The NHL told the Panthers they will open the '98-99
     season on October 9, in their new arena in Sunrise, FL.  The
     AFL FL Bobcats "likely will play in the Panthers' new
     building beginning in" '99 (MIAMI HERALD, 1/7).