WILLIAM DAVIDSON VOWS TO FIX UP THIS BROKEDOWN PALACE

          William Davidson's Palace Sports & Entertainment has
     finalized its acquisition of the Lightning, the Ice Palace
     lease and the adjacent land from Art Williams in a deal
     believed to be worth $115M, according to Tom Jones of the
     ST. PETERSBURG TIMES.  The new owners offered to make a
     "Contract with the Community" after closing the deal, which
     included: The price of around 5,000 Ice Palace seats will be
     lowered for next season; some sections will have $10 seats;
     Palace Sports will donate more than $1M worth of tickets to
     community and charitable organizations and raise $1M for
     local disadvantaged and disabled children's organizations; a
     free concert series in the Ice Palace and "massive changes"
     to the facility.  Lightning President Billy McGehee won't
     return, as he has "cleared out his office" (ST. PETERSBURG
     TIMES, 6/29).  The team plans a '99-2000 team payroll of
     around $24M, which is $9M less than last year's payroll
     under Williams (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 6/29).