SELLERS TAKE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO MLS

     Nine out of 10 general sporting goods and team retailers are
"taking a pass this year" on MLS licensed merchandise licensed,
according to the 17th Annual Soccer Market Survey by SPORTING
GOODS BUSINESS.  However, soccer specialty stores are "embracing
the licensed merchandise in force."  From the report, which
attracted responses from 224 general sporting and soccer
specialty retailers:  80.5% of sporting goods/team dealers and
21.3% of the specialists said they have no plans to carry MLS
licensed product.  The survey found soccer is still a growth
category, but soccer specialty stores are growing at a faster
rate than general sporting goods/team dealers.  There is also "no
great sense" that soccer participation by players over the age of
18 is growing (Robert Carr, SPORTING GOODS BUSINESS, 4/96 issue).