COLANGELO AHEAD OF TIMETABLE WITH EXPANSION DIAMONDBACKS

     Diamondbacks Owner Jerry Colangelo says the team is "way
ahead" of their original timetable in preparing for the inaugural
season in '98, according to USA TODAY.  Rod Beaton notes that
ground has been broken on the 48,500-seat Bank One Ballpark,
which will have a retractable roof and every possible amenity.
All 69 suites have been sold and the team has received deposits
on 44,000 season tickets.  Colangelo and his staff have done
computations and predict the Diamondbacks will be one of the four
or five top revenue-generating clubs in MLB.  Beaton notes, based
on the state of MLB today, that would put revenue at $65-70M.
Colangelo's only complaint is that the Diamondbacks and Devil
Rays cannot vote on MLB matters until they make their final
expansion payments before '98 (USA TODAY, 12/12).