SEEKING SOME MORE MONEY FOR THE HIVE: HORNETS TOLD TO PAY UP

          Charlotte's New Arena Committee drafting a financing
     plan for a new Hornets arena says that the Hornets "should
     pay at least" 70% of the cost of a new arena or a minimum of
     "no less than" $100M, according to Lauren Markoe of the
     CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.  Under the proposed 70/30 split
     agreement, Hornets Owner George Shinn would pay "at least"
     $140M for a $200M arena and "at least" $175M for a $250M
     arena.  Hornets Senior VP/Finance Wayne DeBlander: "It
     sounds very high to the sports team owner and me."  
     DeBlander added that the $100M minimum "sounded more
     reasonable" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/14).  Also yesterday, a
     Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit yesterday that
     "sought to void the agreement that allows the Hornets to
     play at the Charlotte Coliseum."  Former City Council member
     and former Mecklenburg Commissioner Ed Peacock argued that
     the contract between Shinn and the Coliseum Authority "was
     unconstitutional because it gave Shinn a 50 percent share of
     parking and concession profits" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/14).