The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) "now estimates"
     that the bill for structural concrete at the Ravens' new
     stadium "will come in at $43 million, well in excess of the
     $27 million envisioned," according to Jon Morgan of the
     Baltimore SUN.  MD-based Clark Construction Group, the
     contractor which won the "fast-track bid" in '96, will
     receive "[m]ost of that money."  When winning the bid, Clark
     had "promised to negotiate" a "guaranteed maximum price;"
     however the state and Clark "never reached agreement" on
     such a price, and costs "quickly soared -- accounting for
     most" of the project's $20M in overruns.  Clark's contract
     "was the biggest on the project."  MSA officials said it
     "will be able to stay within" the $220M budget outlined in
     the fall.  MSA Exec Dir Bruce Hoffman: "I think we're past
     the point of any surprises" (Baltimore SUN, 3/9).

          The USTA signed an eight-year agreement with Restaurant
     Associates to provide all restaurant, catering and
     concession services at the USTA National Tennis Center and
     the U.S. Open (USTA)....Because construction of their new
     stadium won't be completed until September 17, the Bucs will
     start the '98 season with seven road games, five preseason
     and two regular season (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/8).....The
     Brewers have banned smoking in the seating areas of County
     Stadium.  Smoking will be restricted to certain concourse
     and catwalk areas (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/6)...The
     Angels are "constructing an actual-size infield" at the
     entrance plaza to Edison Field with "green and orange bricks
     substituting for grass and dirt."  For a $75 donation to the
     Angels' charitable foundation, the team will inscribe a
     name, a company name, or a personal message on one of the
     bricks.  The team "hopes to raise" $500,000 for local
     charities through sale of the bricks (L.A. TIMES, 3/7). 

          Allegheny County and Pittsburgh officials are "studying
     the possibility of selling bits and pieces of new football
     and baseball stadiums as a way of increasing private
     investment in the projects," according to Belko & Barnes of
     the Pittsburgh POST-GAZETTE.  Private investors who owned
     stadium assets like "seating, scoreboards, or other
     equipment," could "reap tax benefits" by writing off the
     "cost of depreciation" on such equipment.  The plan was
     discussed last week and may be announced this week by city
     officials as they work on a $777M "so-called Plan B for
     financing the new stadiums" and expanding the city's
     convention center.  In related news, Allegheny County's
     Department of Economic Development has hired IL-based
     stadium consultant Marc Ganis, who heads SportsCorp Ltd.,
     for advice on the financing issues (POST-GAZETTE, 3/6).
          DEALMAKER: In San Jose, Renee Koury profiled Ganis, who
     "created" the Raiders seat-license plan.  NFL
     VP/Communications Greg Aiello, on Ganis: "He's got ideas and
     expertise.  He seems to get things done.  He's a personable
     guy.  And he's a wheeler-dealer" (S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 3/8).

          A retractable dome on a new Broncos stadium "would add
     between" $66M and $145M to the cost of the facility, "but
     could add more than" $19M a year to Denver's economy "by
     attracting more events," according to Peggy Lowe of the
     DENVER POST.  Those numbers are from a "stadium issue paper"
     done by the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.   A
     retractable dome was part of a State Senate-approved bill,
     which, if approved by the House, would be on the November 3
     ballot.  However, Senator Elsie Lacy, the bill's Senate
     sponsor, "has said she will attempt to separate the dome
     issue onto a separate ballot" from the stadium.  CO Gov. Roy
     Romer said that he "is opposed to the dome."  The Chamber's
     study showed a retractable roof facility could host events
     that included the Super Bowl, the Men's Final Four and the
     Big 12 Championship (Peggy Lowe, DENVER POST, 3/7).