A Ohio Poll, sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer and
     the Univ. of Cincinnati, shows that 68% of Ohioans said pro
     sports teams are not important enough to spend tax money on
     stadiums and coliseums for the teams; 31% said sports teams
     are important enough and 1% didn't know.  A sample of 839 OH
     adults were interviewed from January 20-February 3.  The
     poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.4% (ENQUIRER, 3/1).
          OTHER NOTES: In Denver, columnist Bob Kravitz writes
     that the Broncos' deal, as currently presented, "leaves me
     feeling like there is a better, fairer deal out there that
     puts more of the economic burden on private interests and
     the folks who actually use the stadium."  He calls on the CO
     House to examine the deal passed by the Senate more closely
     (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/2)....49ers co-Owner Denise
     DeBartolo York "effectively shut down" DeBartolo
     Entertainment (DBE), the company her brother, Eddie, had
     said would develop the team's stadium complex.  DBE
     reportedly let go "about a dozen of its 15 employees" in a
     "move that would indicate" that DeBartolo York is in control
     of the stadium project (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/1). 

          The Oakland Coliseum Authority is facing $10M in
     "unexpected bills for the makeover of the newly reopened
     basketball arena -- yet another burden for the financially
     troubled public agency," according to Renee Koury of the SAN
     JOSE MERCURY NEWS.  If the Authority winds up paying the
     extra building costs, "it could require another infusion of
     public funds on top of the millions of taxpayer dollars
     already going toward the Raiders deal and possibly millions
     more to subsidize the Warriors deal."  The Coliseum,
     however, "so far has refused to pay" the extra building
     costs demanded over the past month by the general
     contractor, CA-based Tutor-Saliba Corp.  Tutor has billed
     the Authority for $9.8M in work it contends was "outside the
     scope of its contract," but public officials contend that
     "most of the work was required" under the $73M set-price
     contract.  While "conceding some cost overruns," Authority
     Project Manager Matt Vail said he would "deny responsibility
     for the bulk of the" $9.8M in bills from Tutor the
     contractor claims was extra (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/1).  
          STALEMATE: Koury also reported that the Authority is
     withholding about $7M that it owes Tutor, "claiming that
     some of the arena construction work was done poorly or left
     unfinished" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/1).

          PepsiCo has become the exclusive sponsor and pouring
     rights provider at Shea Stadium.  PepsiCo will advertise its
     beverage products, including soft drinks, iced teas, sports
     drinks and juice drinks, in the stadium and throughout the
     concourse areas.  As part of the deal, the 600-seat picnic
     area in left field is being designated the "Pepsi Pavilion." 
     The deal also includes three, 15-second spots on Diamond
     Vision during each regular season game and PepsiCo's All
     Sport Body Quencher logo displayed on coolers, plastic
     bottles and cups in the Mets dugout and bullpen.  PepsiCo
     also has pouring rights to the Cubs, Mariners, Indians,
     Royals, Devil Rays and Diamondbacks (Pepsi).  PepsiCo takes
     over pouring rights from Coca-Cola and NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay
     puts the three-year deal at $2-5M per year (NEWSDAY, 3/1).

          First Union Corp. shareholders approved the pending
     $16.6B purchase of CoreStates Financial Corp.  First Union
     said that 97% of the votes cast by its shareholders were in
     favor of the transaction, which should be completed in April
     (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/2).  First Union spokesperson Sandy
     Deem said that no final decision had been made on changing
     the name of Philadelphia's CoreStates Center, according to
     Tim Panaccio of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.  One option being
     bandied about is the FUN Center.  Panaccio: "Deem says the
     company hasn't ruled out First Union Center as a name,
     despite the double entendre that could accompany the name." 
     CoreStates Complex CEO Peter Luukko confirmed talks with
     First Union on an arena name: "We explored the possibility
     of having First Union give up the name to Comcast.  But
     First Union said they wanted to retain successor rights to
     the arena's name" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/2).