NBA GIVES GRIZZLIES SEASON TICKET SALES BREATHING ROOM

     NBA Media Relations Dir Jan Hubbard said yesterday that the
"absolute bottom line" for season ticket sales in Vancouver and
Toronto is 12,500 -- not 15,000 as previously determined.
Hubbard maintained that the teams should still make their "best
effort" to reach 15,000 by December 31.  Grizzlies Marketing Dir
John Rocha revealed that season ticket sales "are approaching
7,500" as of yesterday.  Hubbard said, "If the Grizzlies stay
where they are at today, the NBA would have the right to
terminate the franchise" -- but was quick to add, "There's never
been any talk around here that Vancouver would lose the
franchise."   Grizzlies VP/GM Stu Jackson "said the 12,500 figure
was news to him" (Dan Stinson, VANCOUVER SUN, 10/18).  The
Raptors are yet to begin taking deposits on season tickets, but
Toronto officials "expect no difficulty hitting the 12,500-
target.  In fact team officials have set a maximum limit of more
than 19,000 in their 22,500-seat temporary SkyDome home" (Doug
Smith, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/18).