FRANCHISE NOTES

     Oilers Owner Bud Adams and his struggle with Houston
officials is profiled in the October 9 issue of FORBES.  Adams,
on his lease: "They called the Astrodome the eighth wonder of the
world.  Then my lease is the ninth wonder" (FORBES, 10/9
issue)....Meanwhile, the Astrodome's other tenants -- the Astros
-- drew only 11,142 to last night's game with the Pirates as they
remain only one game back in the wildcard hunt
(SportsTicker)....The Marlins had their smallest home crowd in
their history last night, drawing 16,230 in a loss to Montreal
(SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/26). ....More crowd apathy:  In
Atlanta, the Falcons "are unloved, uninspiring and have plenty of
tickets unsold at the Georgia Dome," writes Len Pasquarelli in
the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.  The team has 20,000 tickets remaining
for this Sunday's game against the Patriots even though they have
a 3-1 record.  Last week's game against the Jets drew the lowest
total to the Georgia Dome (40,778) since the facility opened in
'92 (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/26).