GOV. WHITMAN'S OFFICE QUESTIONS NETS ARENA PLAN IN NEWARK

          One day after Prudential Insurance "agreed to arrange"
     $170M in financing for a new Nets arena in Newark, NJ Gov.
     Christie Whitman's office "was not impressed," according to
     Doug Most of the Bergen RECORD.  Whitman chief spokesperson
     Peter McDonough: "A one-team arena takes care of 40 nights a
     year.  That leaves you 300 nights a year to make the place
     viable.  That's an enormous hurdle."  However, Nets
     President Michael Rowe said the Nets owners are not
     "worried."  Rowe: "Filling up dates is critical.  We believe
     this arena can operate with 175 to 200 dates a year" 
     (Bergen RECORD, 7/9).  In Newark, Marsico & Chere report
     that the Prudential financing proposal "also envisions the
     arena housing" a hockey team, "although not necessarily" an
     NHL team.  The total cost of the arena "is expected to be"
     $290M and the state "would be called on to make needed
     improvements in the infrastructure" (STAR-LEDGER, 7/9).