RAPTORS HALFWAY TO GOAL, BUT NOBODY IS BEHIND THE HOOP

     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).