FRANCHISE NOTES

     Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner, on lagging attendance: "I
don't know if it's location or New York's just not a baseball
town anymore" (N.Y. POST, 5/29).... Pirates Owner Kevin McClatchy
says a new stadium would be seat 35,000-37,000 at a cost of about
$160M.  McClatchy said the park will be "the smallest new ball
park in baseball," but with the "best sightlines" (N.Y. TIMES,
5/28)....Citing the Astros' rising attendance (but still about
5,000 short of what owner Drayton McLane said he needs to keep
the team in Houston), the DALLAS MORNING NEWS questions whether
MLB will let the club leave if the goal is almost met (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 5/28)....Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. has received a
merger proposal from MLG Ventures Ltd. aimed at "taking the
Gardens private" (TORONTO STAR, 5/28).