Tucson-based Weiser Lock announced it will drop its
sponsorship of the Copper Bowl after four years of sponsoring the
event.  Sara Hammond reports in this morning's ARIZONA DAILY STAR
that company officials cited a desire to reposition and refocus
"resources to support the introduction of unique and proprietary
new products."  Copper Bowl Foundation Chair Billy Joe Varney
said the search is on for a new title sponsor, a $1M commitment
annually.  Varney said the bowl hopes to secure a new sponsor by
June and that while they could continue without a major sponsor,
"it would take many more smaller corporate commitments" for that
to happen (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 1/18).

     In the "Heard on the Street" column in this morning's WALL
STREET JOURNAL, Dave Kansas reports on sports-related
investments, noting some big winners and losers on Wall Street.
Kansas specifically notes Ascent Entertainment -- owners of the
Avalanche and Nuggets (which has dropped 20% since its IPO) and
Churchill Downs (down 21%) as poor investments.  Among Kansas's
winners:  Speedway Motorsports, builder and operator of NASCAR
tracks, which has risen 47% in the last year; Callaway Golf, up
28%; and Gaylord Entertainment, up 10% (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
1/18).

     BMW has unveiled a 328i model that will be the official car
of the '96 Olympic Torch Relay.  The car will be silver and
decorated with "multi-colored images of the 50 states"
(BRANDWEEK, 1/15 issue)....The new parabolic ski is in high
demand at resorts across the U.S.  The ski, which features an
hour-glass design that makes turning easier, is being compared to
oversized golf club and tennis racket designs (N.Y. TIMES, 1/14).
In this morning's NEWSDAY, columnist Gregg Sarra reviews the
performance of the Elan 193 parabolic model, noting that they
enable intermediates "to have more fun."  Sarra notes pro shop
owners say nearly everyone who demos the design returns to
purchase them (NEWSDAY, 1/18)....Wednesday's CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
ran a front-page feature on the second annual Electric Football
Convention taking place this weekend in Chicago.  While only
Miggle Toys of Highland Park, IL, still produces electric
football games, Miggle Owner Michael Landsman says sales that
have doubled each year since '91 (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
1/17)....Reebok announced yesterday it plans a $34M charge for
the 4th quarter due to the sale of its Avia subsidiary. Excluding
the charge, Reebok expects full-year earnings of $2.60-2.65 a
share (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/18)....Wal-Mart reports that
trading card sales are up 696% over a year ago thanks to the
company's World's Most Valuable Card Giveaway in which a Honus
Wagner card will be found in a selected pack (Wal-Mart).
Unrelated to that news, Wal-Mart announced it expects its first
earnings decline in 25 years, "a whopping" 11% drop in the 4th
quarter.  Wal-Mart stock closed at $20.37 -- its lowest level
since '91 (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 1/18)....Computer service
company EMC has signed a two-year deal to become title sponsor
for the Golf Skills Challenge on NBC (INSIDE MEDIA, 1/10-23
issue).... NBR's Cassie Seifert reported that McDonald's plans to
open over 6,000 new restaurants over the next two years, most
outside the U.S.  The company will also buy back close to $2B of
its common stock over the next three years.  McDonald's stock
rose 1 5/8 yesterday to 46 3/8 (PBS, 1/17).

     A dust storm that "ripped across" the Phoenix area yesterday
caused workers to halt construction of the NFL Experience north
of Sun Devil Stadium and destroyed several awnings inside the
stadium.  Dave Newman, Senior Dir of NFL Properties, said the
storm will not prevent the NFL Experience from opening Friday
(ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/18).... Even after many airlines reported
adding extra seats in and out of Phoenix for the days before and
after the Super Bowl, most flights are booked and remaining seats
are "close to full fare."  However, Phoenix and Tucson-area
residents are being offered very low fares for travel out of the
area before the game and back to AZ afterwards (ARIZONA DAILY
STAR, 1/18)....USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand reports the lack of
limousines in the Phoenix area could leave consumers "faced with
a shortage so severe it could rattle society's elite."  Hiestand
notes there were 800 limos parked outside Super Bowl XXIX in
Miami, but only 150 in the entire Phoenix area (USA TODAY,
1/18)....Residents who live near Sun Devil Stadium plan on
charging up to $50 for parking on their property during the game.
Around half of the 20,000 parking spaces made available by the
Host Committee will be reserved for ticket holders (ARIZONA
REPUBLIC, 1/18)....Pittsburgh as the designated home team in the
game will wear their black home jerseys, Dallas will wear white.
Pittsburgh is 3-0 in Super Bowls wearing black, Dallas is 4-2
wearing white.  Ticket brokers are asking from $1,050 to $4,000
for seats to the game (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/18) ....Ocean Spray
will sponsor the TableTop Football National Championships on
Saturday.  The winners will receive $10,000 scholarship for their
school and tickets to Super Bowl XXX (Ocean Spray).
     ADVERTISING NEWS & NOTES:  Subway, which is a first-time
Super Bowl advertiser, has purchased one 30-second spot in the
3rd quarter, in which the company will feature its current $.96
meatball sub deal.  The company will air a new commercial during
the spot (THE DAILY)....NTN Communications will poll Super Bowl
viewers playing the interactive football game QB1 about their
favorite commercials during the game.  During the two-minute
warning, viewers/players will be asked to rate the commercials at
3,000 bars and via America Online.  The winner will receive NTN's
first annual award for best Super Bowl commercial. ... Seven-
year-old Trent South of Sherman, TX, won the national competition
to sing the Oscar Mayer Bologna Song in a commercial that will
premiere during halftime. ... Mail Boxes Etc., a first-time Super
Bowl advertiser, will air its spot featuring the driver of the
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.  In the spot the driver will be shown
to depend on Mail Boxes Etc. for on-the-road business needs (AD
AGE ONLINE, 1/18)....This morning's "Super Bowl Ad Watch" in USA
TODAY features Chrysler-Plymouth's three 30-second spots airing
in the 1st quarter.  Plymouth will feature its new Breeze
subcompact line, showing how carmakers "employed lessons learned
in kindergarten" during the production.  C-P will also run its
"Popcorn" ad that is currently airing (USA TODAY, 1/18).