NEW YORK AREA LOOKS FOR BIG SPENDING FANS WITH FINAL FOUR

     Jennifer McQuire, spokesperson for the N.Y. Convention &
Visitors Bureau, said they expect the Final Four to bring in $28M
in visitor spending at hotels, restaurants, Broadway shows and
other attractions.  The N.Y. DAILY NEWS's Barrett & Ben-Ali write
since this is the first NCAA Finals held in the New York area
since 1950, "hotel rooms are nearly as scarce as Final Four
tickets" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/29).
     SCALPERS PARADISE? Looking ahead to the Final Four, the
state of NJ temporarily lifted its cap in '95 on the price ticket
brokers can charge for resold tickets, according to the
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS.  Brokers previously could only sell for
20% over face value, and now some ticket brokers are asking up to
$10,000 for courtside seats to the Final Four at the Continental
Airlines Arena.  Don Russell writes the NCAA and NJ lawmakers
have effectively "turned it into an exclusive affair for the rich
and well-connected" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 3/29).