VANCOUVER: The Grizzlies have "about 8,500 seats spoken for"
in their quest to meet the NBA-imposed quota of 15,000 by
December 31.  What "concerns" Grizzlies VP/GM Stu Jackson is that
the team hasn't "made appreciable gains in ticket sales since an
early flourish" last spring.  Jackson said that the people of
Vancouver "don't necessarily share our sense of urgency."  Some
question how fair the NBA mandate of 15,000 season ticket sales
is for an expansion team, as "only a handful of teams -- Suns,
Bulls, Knicks, and Hornets  -- exceed 15,000 in sales.  More
typically, NBA teams have sales between 10,000-12,000."  Jackson:
"It is probably not appropriate for me to comment on what's
reasonable or unreasonable.  It is a figure that has been handed
to us and we've got to meet it" (Dan Stinson, VANCOUVER SUN,
10/7).
     TORONTO:  The Raptors officially kicked off their season
ticket campaign yesterday.  Although they have yet to sell a
ticket, Raptors President John Bitove does not "anticipate any
problem" meeting the NBA deadline.  The team will sell tickets
with a license fee -- a first for a Canadian franchise -- which
gives a ticket buyer ownership of the seat.  The fee will be
mandatory for all five seating levels in the lower bowl of
Skydome.  During the first two years of play at SkyDome, the
Raptors will offer a $5 ticket, the lowest price in the NBA.
Ticket plans and licenses sold will be transferrable when the
team moves to its new arena (James Christie, Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL, 10/7).

     Pittsburgh city officials "flatly" denied requests for a
two-week extension on today's deadline for Pirates bids.  Bill
Craig, GM of KBL Sports Network, a susidiary of TCI's Liberty
Sports, will still submit a bid, but said, "It's not going to be
as good as we would like."  Craig maintained KBL would buy the
team only if all other bids fell through.  Robert Caporale,
attorney for Penguins Owner Howard Baldwin, said he would file
papers "in an attempt to keep his client's name alive" -- but he
would not call it a formal bid.  Baldwin had argued for an
extension, citing the NHL labor negotiations and charging city
officials with "unilaterally" setting a deadline.  Former Orioles
President Larry Lucchino declined to say whether he would bid.
But Craig said there may be room for Lucchino to join the KBL
group.  Cleveland investment banker Jeffrey Moffie is no longer
on the city's list, but he may tell the city he has lined up two
more investors with Pittsburgh ties.  Moffie is not submitting a
proposal today but said his group would "make it impossible" to
be outbid.  Other groups working on bids include the Steelers'
Rooney family, Adelphia Communications Chair John Rigas and
Florida financier Malcolm Glazer (Steve Halvonik, PITTSBURGH
GAZETTE, 10/7).

     St. Louis' NFL franchise group, FANS Inc., announced
commitments for 86 of 100 luxury suites as of yesterday.  The
list includes suites withheld for the Rams as part of the team's
"wish list."  FANS point man Tom Eagleton said FANS "would like
nothing better" than to have a sell-out in time for the formal
proposal in L.A. next week.  13 more companies have reserved
suites than did for the 85 boxes sold during St. Louis '93
expansion drive.  Next week, volunteers will call club seat
holders from the expansion drive about renewing commitments for a
portion of the 6,300 club seats (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS POST
DISPATCH, 10/7).
     "YES OR NO": Orioles Owner Peter Angelos is "pressing for a
decision" about the possibility of moving the Rams to Baltimore.
Angelos thinks the decision will be made "before the end of the
month" (Jon Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 10/7).