OAKLAND CITY HALL STEPS IN TO RUN RAIDERS MARKETING

     Raiders marketing officials admitted yesterday what "ticket
holders have known for weeks: the sales effort had fallen far
short of the team's commitment to excellence" (Robert Salladay,
OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 10/26).  To rectify that, the Oakland City
Council has "taken charge to protect the taxpayers' interest" --
"essentially seizing control" of the Raiders' marketing
operation.  The operation will be headed by Deputy City Manager
Ezra Rapport and city official Stephen Ferguson.  The plan has
two major components: One is to enlist the business community's
support in buying and selling tickets; the other is to give seat-
license holders first crack at single-game tickets for upcoming
"marquee" matchups against the Cowboys and Chiefs.  Ticket buyers
will also only have to put up a 25% deposit, instead of 50%, for
the seat licenses (Peter Fimrite, S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/26).