The ATP Tour and EXPO 2000 Hannover announced yesterday that
the ATP World Championship, the year-end event of the men's pro
tour, will be held in Hannover, Germany, from '96-99.  The
event's five-year run in Frankfurt ends after '95.  In addition,
The World Championship will be a showcase event for EXPO 2000
Hannover, the organizer of the World Exposition to be held from
June 1-October 31, 2000.  EXPO 2000 Hannover also made a
commitment to a worldwide ad and promotional campaign to increase
the international awareness of the World Championship and World
Exposition (ATP).
     BEHIND THE DEAL:  Yesterday, THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY spoke
with ATP COO Larry Scott about the change of venue.  Scott cited
two reasons for the move: "One was to build our asset by moving
to Hannover and increasing our [seating capacity] from 9,000
seats in the Festhalle, to where we can sit 14,000 people in the
new facility. ... Secondly, the overall promotional gain that
partnering with the World EXPO gives the ATP Tour.  We are the
arguably the second most popular sport in Germany and now we have
a partner that will back that up with promotions and
advertisements."  Part of EXPO 2000's support will be by running
ads and promotions for both the Championships and the World Expo
on their TV-partner broadcasts and at ATP events.  EXPO 2000 will
also have on-site promotions with Mercedes, a new ATP sponsor,
and other ATP sponsors including Lufthansa.  Scott:  "They are
promoting the World Expo through tennis, and it gives much more
stature and value to the World Championships."  The event will be
televised internationally and seen in the U.S. on ESPN, but Scott
noted the ATP is in discussions to put the men's final on U.S.
network TV.  In addition, Scott said that World Sports Marketing
(WSM), the German-based sports marketing company, will help EXPO
2000 Hannover in staging the event.  Their efforts will be
overseen by tennis guru Ion Tiriac, who is a consultant to WSM.
Scott said staying in Germany was "a reflection of where tennis
is strongest.  There was some consideration to move back to the
U.S. (where it was known as The Masters and held at Madison
Square Garden), but it didn't make sense to us" (THE DAILY).

     The NHL announced yesterday plans for a travelling off-ice
(street and roller) hockey tournament and summer festival called
NHL BREAKOUT '95.  The tour is designed to "capitalize on and
enhance the growing interest in hockey" across North America.
The festival, created by the NHL and produced by Streetball
Partners Int'l, will begin at Soldier Field in Chicago on July
15-16.  In addition to tournaments, a variety of hockey-themed
activities and entertainment will be featured, including skills
clinics and interactive events, as well as music, food,
merchandise, and the chance to meet NHL players.  The tour is
sponsored by Bauer, Campbell's Chunky Soup, Coca-Cola, Dodge,
Nike, Sports Illustrated for Kids in cooperation with USA Hockey
Inline and Canadian Hockey and supported by Hyper Wheels.  NHL
BREAKOUT '95 hits the following areas this summer and early fall:
Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, Edmonton, Washington, Detroit,
Dallas South Florida, and L.A. (NHL).
     BURKE AND THE BABE:  NHL Senior VP Brian Burke was a guest
on ESPN Radio's "Fabulous Sports Babe" Wednesday.  Excerpts -- On
franchise movement:  "We think it's a sign of instability; we
don't like it."  On expansion:  "Are there enough players that
can play at the NHL level to sustain expansion?  We feel there
are, if we have two teams.  The next factor is the venue, but
that's also owner driven.  If the right owner steps forward and
wants a team in Atlanta or Portland or Phoenix, then it may
happen.  That may happen over the summer" (ESPNet SportsZone,
6/2).

     Lawyers for both MLB owners and the MLBPA continue to meet
"under much secrecy," reports Hal Bodley of USA TODAY.  MLBPA
Asst General Counsel Lauren Rich has been representing the union,
"often accompanied" by agent Steve Fehr, brother of MLBPA Exec
Dir Don Fehr, with attorneys Stan Jaspen and Rob Manfred
representing the owners.  Bodley reports that "communication has
been excellent" and the relationship between the two sides "has
improved dramatically."  One scenario discussed "includes a
temporary agreement that would extend through the 1996 season.
The union might go for that; owners likely would not" (USA TODAY,
6/2).

     Soccer in the U.S. "is suffering a post-World Cup letdown"
as the lack of a major league or national coach is cultivating
"skepticism," according to Jere Longman in this morning's N.Y.
TIMES.  However, Longman writes that U.S. soccer officials
"remain enthusiastic about the future" and point to increased
participation, development fund and TV contract from last
summer's World Cup.  MLS officials say that $50M in financing "is
in place" for the league's inaugural season starting next April.
USSF Secretary general Hank Steinbrecher, on MLS:  "If you're
looking at 10,000 people on average to get the product on the
shelf, and increasing the market share every year, then the
league can be successful" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/2).  MLS announces their
ninth and tenth investors and cities on Tuesday (MLS).