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SPURS FEAR SALES TAX VOTE, GO WITH COUNTY'S ARENA PLAN

          The Spurs, "worried about negative reaction to a sales
     tax increase," have voted in favor of the county's Freeman
     Coliseum site for a new arena over the city's plan for a
     downtown facility, according to Cardwell & Huddleston in a
     front-page report in the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS.  The city
     proposed a 1/4-cent sales tax for ten years to construct the
     new arena, but voters will now decide on an increase in the
     hotel-motel tax and auto rental tax on November 2.  Spurs
     Chair Peter Holt: "We felt it would be more difficult to
     sell an arena built with an increased sales tax."  Holt said
     the main factor in the team's decision was a poll last week
     which showed "strong disapproval by likely voters of a sales
     tax increase" (see THE DAILY, 8/9).  Cardwell & Huddleston
     write that the news "disappointed city officials, who felt
     they had a 'handshake' deal with the Spurs for the past 10
     days."  While details are still uncertain, Holt said, "There
     will be a substantial contribution up front by the Spurs"
     toward the arena project.  If voters approve the county
     plan, the team hopes to open the arena in October 2002 on
     land just outside the city (EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/12).  Despite
     "concerns that a Spurs arena at another site will draw
     events and funds away from the Alamodome," Mayor Howard Peak
     said that he "wouldn't oppose a new facility" near Freeman
     Coliseum.  The city will lose about $1.5M annually in lease
     revenue if the Spurs leave (EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/12).
          THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: Holt said the team "looked at
     business considerations and political considerations" in
     choosing the county plan.  Writing on the team's decision,
     EXPRESS-NEWS columnist Carlos Guerra notes that Spurs
     ownership knew, "Politically, a county deal ... offers the
     path of least resistance" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/12). 

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