ASTROS' TALKS STALL AS DEADLINE DRAWS NEAR

     Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said negotiations with the
Astors over a new ballpark "have bogged down," according to John
Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Although Astros Owner Drayton
McLane Jr. said last week he wanted to "intensify talks" before a
September 3 deadline to complete plans for a proposed $250
million retractable-roof stadium, the talks between the team and
county "were apparently going nowhere," which prompted Eckels to
send home his chief negotiator, Carl Hirsch of Stafford Sports
Ventures.  Eckels also said Astros officials "have been slow in
recent days" with helpful information.  But McLane added Eckels
is "way out of line" and "has not come up with a workable plan."
Talks between McLane and Eckels "have stalled at a time when
attendance is not responding to a pennant drive by the club."
Neither side discussed specifics of recent talks, but McLane did
say they remain about $50M apart on how much the Astros might be
able to contribute to a new facility (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/22).