SPURS ARENA DEAL INCHES ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO FRUITION

          The Spurs, Bexar County and two other groups "struck
     pay dirt" yesterday on a "proposed agreement that could
     lead" to a $175M tax-financed arena for the team, according
     to Bower & Cardwell of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS.  County
     commissioners are "scheduled to vote on ratifying the
     agreement" today.  Bexar County Judge Cyndi Krier: "I
     continue to believe that we move this process forward step
     by step, and this is another step forward."  Spurs VP Leo
     Gomez said that the team's ownership group "had approved"
     the agreement, which was "hammered out" over the weekend by
     the Spurs, the county, San Antonio Livestock Exposition and
     the Coliseum Advisory Board.  Under the "letter of intent,"
     the Livestock Exposition will pay the county annual rent of
     $1.2M, with the amount "increased" annually by $50,000 up to
     a maximum of $1.4M.  The Spurs must pay $28.5M upfront, plus
     annual payments of $1.3M for rent and $1M toward an
     "operations and maintenance fund" (EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/24).