THE ICE IS MELTING FOR THE PANTHERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

     It is "more likely than ever" that the NHL Panthers will
leave South Florida after the upcoming season, according to Eric
Conrad of the Ft. Lauderdale SUN SENTINEL.  Citing "extremely
unfavorable economic terms," the NHL franchise has notified Miami
Arena officials, in a July 31 letter from Panthers VP Dean
Jordan, of their intentions to play this season in Miami, but not
to renew their year-to-year lease beyond that.  Jordan did say,
however, the team would be willing to stay another year if it
could get lease terms similar to those of the Heat, which
currently gets most of the skybox and advertising revenue from
the arena.  The Panthers must tell the NHL by the spring or early
summer of '96 where they plan to play their '96-97 season (Eric
Conrad, Ft. Lauderdale SUN SENTINEL, 8/11).