STERN STANDS GROUND ON TICKET GOAL FOR NEW NBA FRANCHISES

     At yesterday's NBA telephone press conference, NBA
Commissioner David Stern was asked if the franchise would be
revoked from either Vancouver or Toronto if the 12,500 season
ticket goal is not met by 12/31/94, Stern said simply:  "Yes."
When asked to elaborate: "I'm reaching back to our Orlando
situation and I remember Orlando was somewhat short of the goal
and I remember Orlando calling and asking whether the committee
[meant exactly or approximately 10,000], and the response at that
time from the committee was 'no.'... Historically, [the
committee] has enforced the agreement" (THE DAILY).  In
Vancouver, Neil Campbell also notes that Stern "hinted that he is
growing impatient with the Raptors' here-today, gone-tomorrow
plans for a downtown Toronto arena. ... The usually precise Stern
seemed somewhat confused when discussing the Raptors' arena
situation, sounding very much like a man who has heard so many
different stories he is having trouble fitting them all together"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/3).