REQUEST FOR WINNIPEG ARENA FUNDS SCALED BACK

     A request for C$3.7M by the group trying to keep the Jets in
Winnipeg was scaled back to C$1.5M by a city committee.  The
Manitoba Entertainment Complex, a group of almost five dozen
entrepreneurs, is trying to use the "pool of private capital" to
market a new arena for the Jets.  The 16-member city council will
vote on the request at a special meeting on Friday.  Winnipeg
Deputy Mayor George Fraser said if the money proposal isn't
passed by the council, "the deal collapses and the hockey team
has the message they should be on the market" (CANADIAN PRESS,
10/13).  Councilman Al Golden, considered the "swing vote" on the
council, issued an ultimatum to the group in exchange for his
support of the marketing of the new arena.  Golden said he'd
contribute the city's 36% share in the Jets, but not a cent of
taxes, along with a commitment by the team to stay in Winnipeg
for at least 25 years (Bill Redekop, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 10/12).