NUGGETS ON THE ROCKS? TICKET SALES SHOW STEADY DECLINE

          The Nuggets' ticket sales have declined 34.5% since
     '94-95 according to NBA figures and cited by Curtis
     Eichelberger of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS.  Figures obtained
     from Denver's auditor's office show that nearly one-fifth of
     all Nuggets ticket purchasers are no-shows for games.  The
     Nuggets' paid attendance dropped from 704,011 in '94-95 to
     461,408 this past season and season-ticket sales also "have
     taken a hit."  The Nuggets capped season-ticket sales three
     years ago when demand reached 13,000.  But the number
     dropped to 10,061 in '95-96 and to 8,427 this past season. 
     For the '96-97 season, the team's paid attendance averaged
     11,254, but the city's Dir of Theaters and Arenas Gary Lane
     reports that its actual attendance averaged 9,169 -- down
     from 14,808 three years ago.  Nuggets President Ellen
     Robinson declined to comment (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 5/22).