STERN TOURS GUND ARENA: ALL STAR '97 IN CLEVELAND?

     NBA Commissioner David Stern toured the Gund arena
Wednesday, saying the Cavaliers' new home is among several sites
being considered to host the '97 All Star game.  NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik said the two major considerations for an
All-Star site are "the arena and the hotels in the area."  Stern,
Granik, Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, Cavaliers GM Wayne Embry and
other team and NBA execs toured the arena and attended the
Cavaliers opening game.  Stern says the new facility has "a
special intimacy" and has contributed to Cleveland's downtown
"revitalization."  The '95 All Star game will be played in
Phoenix and the '96 game in Houston (Burt Graeff, Cleveland PLAIN
DEALER, 11/9).  The NBA "Nightly News" featured a piece on Gund
Arena and its effect on Cleveland's downtown (NBC, 11/9).