Acting MA Gov. Paul Cellucci "is close to reaching a
     compromise" with Patriots Owner Robert Kraft under which the
     state "would share the costs of providing police details" on
     game days.  The cost of police details for a football season
     is "about $200,000."  Kraft has been paying the cost in full
     (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/8)....In L.A., Daniel Taub reported that
     about 40% of the luxury suites at Staples Center are already
     committed, "and the rest are expected to [be] sold" early
     this year (L.A. BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/29 issue)....U.S.
     District Judge Thomas Hogan yesterday ordered an inspection
     of the MCI Center "to ensure that his orders on seating
     arrangements for the disabled have been followed"
     (WASHINGTON POST, 1/8).  Washington Sports Abe Pollin writes
     an op-ed piece in today's WASHINGTON POST on the benefits of
     the MCI Center, saying, "My hope is that MCI Center will
     earn a reasonable, but by no means excessive, profit on its
     far greater investment" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/8). 

          Procter & Gamble and the city of Jackson, TN, have
     reached an agreement in principle for the Pringles brand to
     acquire the naming rights to Jackson's new AA baseball park.
     The deal will bring the city more than $1M over a minimum of
     15 years, with additional negotiations allowing for
     potential increases in the length of term, dollars involved,
     and services provided.  The 6,000-seat Pringles Park is
     scheduled to open in April for the inaugural home game of
     the West TN AA Diamond Jaxx (City of Jackson, TN).     
          IN THE ZONE: In Memphis, TN-based auto parts chain
     AutoZone has secured naming rights to the city's planned
     downtown baseball park via a $4.3M investment, according to
     Rob Johnson of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL.  AutoZone's
     25-year naming rights deal is part of a "complex financing
     package still needed for construction" of the AAA Redbirds
     12,500-seat new home, and includes a commitment over the
     first five years for 150 field-level season tickets and 50
     club seats (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/7).

          In his "most definitive comments to date about the
     Reds," Hamilton County, OH, Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said
     that a future Reds ballpark "belongs on the riverfront,"
     which Hobson & Michaud write "all but" ends the "river vs.
     Broadway Commons debate."  Bedinghaus' comments "have made
     renovation [of Cinergy Field] the leading option." 
     Bedinghaus: "If you've got the best location and we can
     create the new ballpark experience in the old one, that
     doesn't sound like a half-bad solution."  Bedinghaus also
     said that a stadium site "would be announced" by March 31   
     -- Opening Day.  Reds Managing CEO John Allen could not be
     reached for comment yesterday (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/8).
          BENGALS CLOSER? Bedinghaus said Tuesday that a stadium
     deal, including a land swap, for the Bengals could be done
     "by the end of the month" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/7). 
     Cleveland Mayor Michael White, asked if the city would be
     interested in the Bengals if a deal in Cincy is not reached:
     "I believe that the long-term fallout and intrastate strife
     resulting from such a move is not worth the price of having
     the Bengals play in Cleveland.  If our city accepted
     Cincinnati's team, the problems that would be created
     between our communities would far outweigh the benefits of
     the deal (Geoff Hobson, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/7).

          The Rockets "are appealing" the January '97 court
     decision "forcing the team to honor its lease and remain in
     Compaq Center through November 2003," according to John
     Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Rocket Ball Ltd., the
     team's controlling interest, "asked the 1st Court of Appeals
     last week for a quick decision so it can start negotiations"
     with the city of Houston for a new arena.  Garry Merritt,
     the team's legal counsel, said that the team is "merely
     following the legal avenues available to the franchise" in
     its pursuit to work out a settlement with Chuck Watson's
     Arena Operating Company.  Merritt: "Our view is this started
     in the courts and we think we should follow its course to
     see how it runs" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/8).

          The San Diego City Council has "secretly hired high-
     powered consultants from Atlanta and Denver to open
     financing negotiations with the Padres," according to Barry
     Bloom of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.  Hired to "help
     represent city government in the negotiations" were Paul
     Jacobs, the Rockies' attorney when Coors Field was conceived
     and constructed, and Steve Labovitz, former Chief of Staff
     under Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who handled negotiations
     for a new arena in Atlanta and oversaw the conversion of
     Olympic Stadium into Turner Field.  Assistant City Attorney
     Les Girard said the two attorneys will be paid an hourly
     rate of $225-$250, with a cap of $75,000 each.  In related
     news, city negotiators "met with Padres' officials for the
     first time last week," while not including the city's
     ballpark Task Force.  Task Force Chair Pat Shea "was clearly
     chagrined by the developments."  Golding said the task force
     will remain in existence until negotiations are completed
     and "insisted that the negotiating team's work will
     complement the task force's efforts" (UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/7).