NASHVILLE LETS IT BE KNOWN THAT IT'S SERIOUS

     Officials in Nashville yesterday took "giant steps" toward
building a new stadium to woo the Oilers by announcing that they
had hired stadium consultant Max Muhleman to "assist
negotiations" with the Oilers, according to John Williams of the
HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Muhleman's role will reportedly be to
"determine how much private money is available" for a new
stadium, and then "get it."  Contrary to Houston Mayor Bob
Lanier's suggestion of a counter-offer, Williams reports that
Greater Houston Partnership President Jim Kollaer said that the
"general opinion" of Houston business leaders is to let Oilers
Owner Bud Adams leave. Kollaer:  "There just isn't any interest
in keeping the Oilers."  Nashville has also hired Timothy Mueller
of KPMG Peat Marwick.  Williams writes that his hiring "is
considered a hardball attempt by Nashville officials to make sure
the Oilers do not get all the revenue generated in a new stadium,
and that some of the money helps repay construction costs"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/31).