BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO: DETROIT SPORTS GROUP DISBANDS

     The 4-year-old Detroit Sports Commission is "being
dismantled," with some marketing responsibilities shifted to the
Metropolitan Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau, according to
CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS.  The commission was created by the city
of Detroit and the business community to pursue pro and amateur
sporting events for their potential economic benefit.  The
Commission "met with limited success," having produced the '94
U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but lost out on the '98 World
Figure Skating Championships and the '99 Women's NCAA Final Four.
David Barkholz writes "the transition" began after the Detroit
Convention Bureau paid $40,000 for a study of Detroit sports
facilities to determine what type of events the city should
pursue.  The study said the city should go after "second-tier"
pro and amateur events that would draw people to the area, but
not put the city in competition with every other U.S. city
(CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS, 8/19 issue).