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CRACK IN ALLTEL'S ARMOR: NBA PRESEASON GAME CANCELED IN AR

          Due to "concerns" about the "structural stability" at
     Alltel Arena, officials canceled last night's Lakers-Wizards
     preseason game three and a half hours before game-time,
     according to Kim McGuire of the ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE,
     who writes that engineers "became worried that the
     building's support beams might not support the weight of
     18,000 fans."  Arena GM Michael Marion said that the two
     teams "will try to reschedule" the game before the NBA
     regular season starts on November 2.  AR-based Garver and
     Garver Senior Project Engineer Willard Reese, on the
     decision to cancel the game: "I really do not believe there
     was a real chance of collapse or anything that would cause
     loss of life.  But we wanted to be cautious."  While
     engineers "found cracks in the concrete beam that supports"
     upper deck seats three weeks ago, some wondered why the game
     was canceled just hours before tipoff. Reese: "That's a very
     good question."  Arena construction and management officials
     "would not place blame on any specific" contractor, but
     "hinted legal action would be taken."  Arena Board Chair Bob
     Russell, when asked if he could "imagine a worse grand
     opening": "Sure I can -- people sitting up there and it
     falls in."  McGuire reports that the Lakers were required to
     pay a $25,000 license fee to the arena, plus a 20%
     commission for event sponsors and other fees.  The Lakers
     also "agreed to pay" a $5,000 deposit.  McGuire: "Arena
     officials said they don't know what will become of the fees"
     (DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 10/13).  In AR, Wally Hall: "Make no
     mistake, to cancel was the right decision. ... [But] there
     is going to be lost confidence.  Especially among the masses
     who will sit in the upper deck" (DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 10/13).

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