Spencer Stolpen, president of the AAA Charlotte Knights,
said the city decided not to submit a bid for an MLB expansion
team this year because the population is not yet high enough to
support a franchise.  Mayor Richard Vinroot says the area is
"probably five years away from having enough people in the core
of our market area."  Stolpen says he and Knights owner George
Shinn discussed a bid with several MLB officials.  Shinn's
Knights Castle Stadium conforms to major league specifications
and can be expanded from 10,000 to 45,000 seats.  Sports
Marketing Consultant Max Muhleman, who assembled Charlotte's bids
for the Panthers and Hornets, said he would "support George
[Shinn] as the logical owner" when the city is ready for a team
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/1).

     With the remarks by Rams President John Shaw and the
progress in negotiations, "Rams fever is building in St. Louis."
Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr.:  "We're extremely excited about the
position we're in."  At a press conference last night, further
details of the Rams/FANS plan were made clear:  1)  Businessman
Stan Kroenke is "poised to buy a 40% share of the Rams," but the
deal is not yet complete.  2) FANS Inc. "may take advantage of a
5% amusement tax on tickets to sporting events to help build" a
practice and office facility for the team.  This could also lower
the amount needed to be raised through the permanent seat
licensing program.  3)  Still unresolved on the Rams "wish list"
is the team's desire to be compensated for losses this season,
which could add at least $5-$6 million to the price tag, and the
question of who will take care of game-day expenses.  4)  Also in
question is who will receive money from the selling of the
stadium naming rights to a corporation.  FANS spokesperson Tom
Eagleton: "I'm more optimistic than I have been perhaps ever
before in this sequence because we're getting some issues
resolved" (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/4).

     The Raptors announced they have sold 6,400 season tickets,
more than half of the 12,500 minimum set by the NBA in order for
Toronto to keep the franchise.  Of the sales, about 3,000 of
those are the highest-priced seats -- $85, plus a licensing fee
of $8,750 each.  The Raptors just began season-ticket sales on
October 21.  The fact that has the club "worried" is that only a
few hundred seats have been sold behind the baskets.  Raptors
VP/Comm. Tom Mayenknecht: "There is more demand than we projected
for seats between the baskets."  The team now will look to sell
the remaining seats, and Raptors' Dir of Ticketing Mark Lavaway
says the club is planning an ad campaign and other incentives to
help reach the goal (Frank Byers, TORONTO STAR, 11/4).

     Lawyers for former Rockies part owner Mickey Monus concluded
their arguments in his case seeking $23M in compensation for his
former 10% stake in the club.  Monus sold his share for $300,000
in '92 but now claims insolvency, saying he was "foggy" due to
prescription drugs he took before he signed the deal.  Rockies
lawyers contend that Monus "got out of the Rockies exactly what
he put in --about $300,000, most of it borrowed."  Monus was
fired as Phar-Mor President in '92 and later charged with 123
counts of fraud.  Rockies officials "say privately that Monus has
little chance" of being reinstated to club ownership and that the
case is "a money case."  The Rockies begin making their case
today (Paul Hutchinson, DENVER POST, 11/3).

     Peter Ueberroth is reportedly one of the leading candidates
to become minority owner and managing general partner of the
Angels.  The former commissioner, one of six Angel board members,
"refused to discuss his interest."  Bob Nightengale of the L.A.
TIMES writes Ueberroth "might try to buy the club with the
assistance of powerful Orange County businessman, George Argyros.
Argyros, former owner of the Seattle Mariners, reportedly is
worth at least $250 million."  Angel co-owner Jackie Autry has
suspended talks with prospective owners until the strike is
settled.  Autry: "It's premature for me to speculate what will
happen.  There are just too many unknowns. ...  Peter has other
things to worry about than this right now" (L.A. TIMES, 11/4).