While attendance figures at the SkyDome show that
"interest is decreasing" in the Raptors' second season,
Marty York of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL wonders if it's
decreasing "even more than figures show." According to
SkyDome sources, the Raptors "have exaggerated the size of
their crowds" on "at least a couple of occasions" this
season. Publicly, the team states they've drawn an average
of 19,984 through eight home games -- with 28,457 for the
home opener against the Knicks and 27,357 for the Lakers.
One SkyDome source: "The attendance numbers the Raptors are
giving out publicly simply don't match the numbers they're
giving to us." Raptors VP Brian Cooper admitted there had
been "a fall-off" in interest in the club from last year,
adding, "There's been a dropoff in our season-ticket base
and there has been a dropoff in our walkup crowds. But we
expected something like this, frankly." More Cooper: "We're
not disappointed with our attendance figures ... We need to
develop more hard-core basketball fans." To assist this
effort, the team will soon launch a youth league in
Metropolitan Toronto which will cost the club less than
C$100,000 (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/26).
SLAIGHT IN A CASH CRUNCH? In Toronto, Craig Daniels
reports that new Raptors majority owner Allan Slaight has to
"worry about finding the money to pay" former Raptors
President John Bitove for the termination of his contract.
Slaight, who "bought himself a job he didn't want" is now
"looking to sell off part of the team" (TORONTO SUN, 11/26).
ARENA UPDATE: A "carefully worded" press release from
the Raptors stated that the board of directors - on which
Bitove still sits - unanimously approved the purchase of the
Canada Post site at Bay and Lake Shore, according to Daniels
& Hornby in today's TORONTO SUN. The Maple Leafs have said
they are not interested in playing at Air Canada's Bay and
Lake Shore site, but Daniels & Hornby note that Slaight and
the Leafs "are indeed working toward a deal on a joint-
venture arena." In declaring going at it alone, the Raptors
will avoid C$60M in fines from the NBA, Marathon Realty, and
others connected with the Post site (TORONTO SUN, 11/26).
