Mayor, County Chairman Turn Down Magic Freebee to Pacer Country

ORLANDO-In an obvious effort to sway city and county movers and shakers that tax dollars should pay for a new $250 million basketball arena, Magic owner Richard DeVos flew a party of 40, including reporters, on his private jet to Indianapolis last night to take in the Philadelphia-Pacers National Basketball Association game where they inspected the two-year-old, $236 million Conseco Fieldhouse.

(The 76ers beat the Pacers 111-105.)

Noticeably absent from the party were Mayor Glenda Hood and Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty. Their public statements to date indicate they will not raise hotel room taxes or move funds from the general property tax bank to help pay for arena construction costs.