In San Jose, Jody Meacham examines the increase of minor
league teams in "major league" markets.  Among the points
highlighted in the piece:  "As the business of sports turns more
to marketing and entertainment, customer bases are expanding
beyond fans to those who just want an entertaining night on the
town."  Meacham also writes that while "it doesn't take an
enormous marketing effort" for small teams in areas like San Jose
to be successful, they still are "heavily dependent on businesses
buying large blocks of season tickets" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS,
2/21).

     City officials in Seattle announced they have reached
agreement with Key Bank of Washington to become title sponsor of
the Seattle Center Coliseum.  The facility, which is home of the
SuperSonics, is currently undergoing a $74M renovation to be
completed in October.  It will be called The Key Arena at Seattle
Center.  The Cleveland-based bank agreed to "pay the city $15M
over 15 years," starting with a payment of $750,000 and growing
by 4% in each subsequent year of the deal.  Key Bank will also
display its name on the four-sided rooftop-structure, above the
east and west entrances, and on the basketball court and ice
surface.  Seattle Mayor Norm Rice said the deal will help the
city renovate without tax dollars and that the Key Arena will be
the "first publicly financed arena in the nation fully supported
by earned income from the building."  After renovation, the
facility will seat more than 17,000, with 58 luxury suites and
1,000 club seats (Alex Tizon, SEATTLE TIMES, 2/21).  The
partnership with Key also "greatly diminishes, if not wipes out,"
Seafirst Bank's more than 20-year affiliation as a major Sonics'
sponsor.  Besides the Sonics, the arena will be the home of the
WHL Thunderbirds and the CISL Seadogs (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE,
2/22).

     The $3.7B acquisition of Boston's Shawmut Bank by Fleet
Financial Group or Providence, RI, includes naming rights to the
new Boston Garden, which was to have been called the Shawmut
Center.  According to this morning's BOSTON GLOBE, Fleet CEO
Terrence Murray said an actual name won't be chosen for "about
two weeks."  But Fleet Forum has been mentioned (Pham & Reidy,
BOSTON GLOBE, 2/22).  Columnist Michael Gee suggests that New
Boston Garden Corp. President Larry Moulter not place the Fleet
logo on center ice too quickly, considering the instability of
the corporate world.  "Big fish get swallowed by even bigger fish
all the time.  The new Garden isn't due to open until September.
By that time it might have to be named the Citibank Center, the
Credit Agricole Center, the Nomura Securities Forum, or the
Bundesbank Barn" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/22).

     The Panthers will play in the NFC West starting next season.
Until their facility in Charlotte is ready in '96, the team will
play at Clemson's "Death Valley" in SC.  The Panthers will pay
close to $3M in rent at Clemson for the '95 season.  One unique
feature at Carolinas Stadium is the lack of public subsidies.
The stadium will be paid for by the sale of Permanent Seat
Licenses, and through private funds.   The following is the final
installment (No. 30) of THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY'S profile of
NFL infrastructure.


 
  

    
 
      
STADIUM:
      
Carolinas 
        Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
    
    
 
      
CAPACITY:
      
73,000 or 73,500 
        — 11th highest in the NFL
    
    
 
      
DESIGNED:
      
Designed 
        for football by the HOK Sports Facilities Group of Kansas City, MO.
    
    
 
    
 
      
COMPLETED:
      
Facility will be 
        completed by August '96.
    
    
 
      
OWNERSHIP:
      
Owned and operated 
        by the Carolina Stadium Corp.
    
    
 
      
LUXURY 
        SEATS:
      
135 suites 
        — two kinds, 10 person suites, and 40 person suites on two levels 
        along the sideline. There will also be approximately 10,800 club seats 
        with amenities.
    
    
 
    
 
      
COST:
      
$160M 
        plus $50M for 33 acres of land. Paid for bycombination of $100M raised 
        through the sale ofPermanent Seat Licenses, and $60M through privatefunds.
    
    
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
      
CONCESSIONS:
      
Volume 
        Services — Carolina Stadium Corp. willreceive all concession revenue.
    
    
 
    
 
      
ADVERTISING:
      
Team 
        will handle all stadium advertising and receiveall revenue.
    
    
 
    
 
      
GAME-DAY:
      
Panthers will provide 
        all game-day personnel.
    
    
 
      
MAINTENANCE:
      
Carolina Stadium 
        Corp. handles all repair.
    
    
 
      
VISITING GATE:
      
Visiting team will 
        receive $1.2M per game.
    
    
 
      
RENT:
      
Team will make no 
        rent payment.
    
    
 
      
LEASE:
      
Not Available.
    
  


(Source: Charlie Dayton, Panthers Public Relations).