ASTROS WOULD MAY NOT BE OPPOSED TO SEEING THE OILERS LEAVE

     Astros Owner Drayton McLane, who controls the Astrodome, may
be willing to negotiate a deal for the Oilers to move to
Nashville early, according to the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  John
Williams writes, "Without the Oilers competing for entertainment
dollars, the Astros might expect to attract more fans."  In
addition, McLane would probably get more from a settlement than
he would if the Oilers stay two more seasons as a lame duck
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/14).
     TICKET NEWS:  The CHRONICLE's Blount & Villafranca note the
Astros won't have to wait long to monitor McLane's attendance
challenge, as the team's first nine games in '96 are at home.
Most ticket prices went up $1 or $2:  Star deck $17 to $19; field
box $15 to $16, mezzanine $12 to $14, club level $15 to $17, loge
$9 to $11, sky box $10 to $12, and upper box $6 to $7 (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 11/14).