SPORTS AUTHORITY GIVES KAUFFMAN STADIUM THE ROYAL TREATMENT

          The Jackson County Sports Authority and the Royals
     reached an agreement on $11M in improvements to Kauffman
     Stadium, including new field box seats just 50 feet from
     home plate, according to Gromer Jeffers of the K.C. STAR. 
     Other improvements, which the Royals want "completed for the
     start of the 1999 season" include public dugout-level
     suites, an air-conditioned underground club room, three new
     batting cages and improvements to both the home and visitors
     clubhouses.  To finance the improvements, the Royals and the
     authority "agreed to delete 16 improvements for the future,"
     including the scoreboard, press box and concession stands.
     The team is still "putting together a wish list of
     improvements that will cost" $70-80M (K.C. STAR, 5/15).