BEYOND THE BIG FOUR: STRONG SEASON HAS AFL EYEING GROWTH

          The Arena Football League is examined by Richard Obert
     of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC.  Obert: "Management has improved. 
     Eight of the 14 teams are drawing better than 10,000 fans a
     game.  There is talk of expanding to a record 18 teams in
     1998.  But Arena football is in the dark ages when it comes
     to national exposure" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/10).
          NPSL: NPSL officials will add nine teams in the next
     five years, eventually giving the indoor league 24 members. 
     The "target areas" are the West Coast, Canada and Atlantic
     City, NJ (Keith Schildroth, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/10).
          PIFL: The Professional Indoor Football League will
     launch a 14-game season in April '98.  The league plans 16
     teams, each of which can break even with 3,000-4,000 fans
     per game at an average of $12 per ticket (PIFL).