CHARLOTTE WILL WAIT FOR BASEBALL

     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).