FRANCHISE NOTES

     Northwest Sports Enterprises Ltd. -- the Canucks publicly-
traded owner -- has been relieved of its obligation of a C$98M
construction loan by the Orca Bay Arena Ltd. Partnership.
However, Northwest is finalizing a C$10M agreement from the
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce to cover salaries and
operating expenses (FINANCIAL POST, 3/20)....The Marlins still
have 14,000 tickets remaining for their opening day matchup
against the Pirates.  Team officials are "surprised" at the low
sales numbers (MIAMI HERALD, 3/20)....The agent for Bullets star
Chris Webber is upset that the team charges players for getting
their own hotel rooms on the road.  The Bullets and Sixers are
the only NBA teams that pass the extra charge of individual rooms
along to the players (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/20)....The Devil Rays
have made an offer to take over the White Sox spring training
camp in Sarasota if Chicago moves to another location, as
expected (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/20)....Eaton Corp. has pledged
up to $1M to support Cleveland's efforts to land an NFL team
(Eaton Corp.)....The Alouettes' new logo will be a "vicious-
looking" bird that appears "mean, fast and rugged," according to
Owner Jim Speros.  Colors will be red, white, blue, silver and
black (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/19).