The Royals' Board of Directors voted Monday to "speed
     up the sale" of the team, though no auction date has been
     set, according to Charles Crumpley of the K.C. STAR.  Royals
     CEO David Glass, the "presumed front-runner to buy the team,
     said he would not bid for it."  Glass: "I have no interest
     in bidding on the team.  I don't think it would be in my
     best interest."  The three "publicly identified potential
     buyers" for the team include local business exec Frank Oddo,
     a group led by K.C. banker Jerry Green and a third group led
     by George Brett (K.C. STAR, 9/30).  In K.C., columnist Jason
     Whitlock writes that although he is a local favorite, "Brett
     shouldn't be allowed to win the ownership war for the Royals
     easily.  No way. ... Before they make that recommendation,
     Brett and his investors should be forced to articulate a
     compelling argument about why they're qualified to lead this
     troubled franchise" (K.C. STAR, 9/30).

          "Increased fan violence at Lions football games is
     being blamed on heavy drinking during tailgate parties in
     the Silverdome parking lot -- an illegal practice apparently
     condoned by Lions and Silverdome officials, as well as
     police," according to Ron French of the DETROIT NEWS.  In
     the latest incident, a fan remains in serious condition at a
     Pontiac, MI, hospital "in what appears to have been a
     drunken brawl" during Sunday's game.  While police, stadium
     and concession officials meet before and during games to
     decide when to cut off beer sales, French writes that
     officials "have done little to contain the drinking that
     occurs before the games in the stadium parking lot."  A city
     ordinance forbids open containers of alcohol on the grounds
     of the Silverdome.  Lions VP Bill Keenist said security of
     the parking lot is the responsibility of the Stadium
     Authority.  Keenist: "We see tailgating as part of the lore
     of professional football. ... Our position is, we want to do
     whatever we can so that our fans have a safe enjoyable time"
     (DETROIT NEWS, 9/30).  Silverdome and Lions officials say
     Sunday's fight, "while serious, was isolated between two
     people among nearly 80,000, including several thousand Green
     Bay fans" (Brian Murphy, DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/30).

          With a third "substantial loss in four years, members
     of the Expos' ownership consortium might soon have to dig
     into their pockets," according to Ian MacDonald of the
     Montreal GAZETTE.  Expos President Claude Brochu said the
     club will finish with a C$13M shortfall this year after
     losing between C$6-7M in '96.  Brochu said that the club
     received between C$9-10M in revenue sharing last year, "and
     it expects a little more this year."  The Expos are also
     receiving an annual sum of C$4-5M from the expansion teams.
     Brochu: "[Revenue sharing] simply is not sufficient to cover
     expenses. ...[W]e'll know where we stand in all of this next
     spring.  If there is enough interest in license sales and
     corporate boxes for us to go ahead with the [new] stadium
     planning, that's the way we'll go.  If there is not, we will
     sell" (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/30).  Brochu added that ticket
     prices will increase to '96 levels, after this year's
     experiment with cut-rate prices, which was, in Brochu's
     words, "a miserable failure" (GAZETTE, 9/29).  
          BALLPARK UPDATE: Brochu said that all 1,300 of the most
     expensive C$10,000 seat licenses for a new ballpark have
     either sold or "will be sold" (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/29).

          In Phoenix, Jim Gintonio writes the "major gift the
     Coyotes have brought to the Valley appears to be at the
     grass-roots level," as more than 1,100 players are involved
     in the two valley youth hockey leagues, and those kids "play
     a big role in keeping sporting goods stores scrambling to
     keep up with the demand for [Coyotes] paraphernalia" (AZ
     REPUBLIC, 9/30)....The Warriors have lowered ticket prices
     in the upper bowl of the Oakland Coliseum Arena.  Side
     balcony seats, originally $45, are now $27.  The $35 center
     balcony seats are now $22, and the end balcony seats at
     $12.50, are now $9 (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/30).

          With no decision from the NFL due until March, "the
     brewing battle" over who will be the new Browns owner "could
     be Cleveland's most exciting football contest this season,"
     according to David Adams of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. 
     Potential owners include former Browns QB Bernie Kosar, MBNA
     Corp. CEO Alfred Lerner, former Browns Minority Owner Robert
     Gries, commercial property developer Bart Wolstein and
     Indians Owner Richard Jacobs.  Adams wrote that, among other
     criteria, the NFL "would like to see a likable and outgoing
     owner who could help heal the scars left from [Art] Modell's
     bitter departure."  Adams added "there is a chance" that the
     NFL might try to broker a deal that would form "supergroups"
     that combine "popular, but not-so-rich" potential owners
     like Kosar or Jim Brown with others "whose wealth is far
     greater" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 9/28).

          In response to reports that TCI's Liberty Media holds
     an option to participate in News Corp.'s deal for the
     Dodgers, the Fox Group and TCI issued a joint statement
     yesterday: "The Fox Group is the sole entity acquiring the
     Dodgers. ... The Fox Group is under no obligation to offer a
     participatory role in the Dodgers to any other party. 
     Nonetheless, the Fox Group, as is the right of any [MLB]
     franchise owner, may explore the possibility of inviting
     partners to participate in the Dodgers after the conclusion
     of the purchase" (Fox).  In L.A., Hofmeister & Newhan report
     that MLB owners "were taken aback" Monday by the prospect
     that News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch "hadn't fully disclosed
     his plans to finance the purchaser and in effect has a
     partner waiting in the wings.  Two sources said Monday that
     Murdoch and [TCI Chair] John Malone ... already have an
     understanding that they will own the team as a partnership." 
     One "top-ranking" MLB official: "You're damn right we're
     concerned and want to know more about it. This is not what
     they were talking about."  A source close to News Corp. said
     that Murdoch "is eager to have Liberty as a partner to help
     finance the deal."  While Hofmeister & Newhan note "some
     investors aren't convinced that it makes sense for Liberty
     to invest in the Dodgers," sources close to Malone see "an
     international value" to owning the team (L.A. TIMES, 9/30). 
          RESPONSE: Liberty VP/Investor Relations Vivian Carr:
     "In some circumstances we have the right to participate in a
     deal.  But in any case, the question is moot because News
     Corp. has not even completed the deal" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/30). 

          The Astros "could, conceivably, get a new name" when
     they move into their new ballpark in 2000, according to John
     Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Astros Senior VP Bob
     McClaren: "We have just discussed it, but there is nothing
     active going on."  Possible new names include the Diesels,
     the Wildcatters or the Buffs.  In other news, the team has
     hired MD-based David Ashton & Assoc. to design graphics and
     signs for its new ballpark being built next to Union Station
     to "identify the new ballpark with the aging train station." 
     Ashton worked on Camden Yards (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/30).
          MARINERS: The Mariners will pay King County "about"
     $50,000 a game in rent for the postseason.  But Kingdome
     exec Susan Clawson estimates that each playoff games cost
     "somewhere between" $80,000-120,000 per game.  In '95, the
     team's postseason success cost King County $400,000, and
     even with an amended lease deal, if the team were to play a
     full slate of nine home games, the costs to King County
     "could be as great" as in '95 (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/29). 
          ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK? Yankees sources say that Owner
     George Steinbrenner "came away from pre-playoff chats with
     [NY Gov.] George Pataki confident that the governor -- while
     publicly advocating no move -- won't stand in the way of a
     Bronx evacuation" (NEW YORK magazine, 10/6 issue).
          TICKET UPDATE: Around 2,000 tickets remain for Game One
     of the NLCS Division Series against the Giants, and about
     4,000 remain for Wednesday's Game Two at Pro Player Stadium. 
     The Yankees have sold out their two Division Series games,
     while the Mariners have sold out Wednesday's Game One and
     are "close" to selling out Thursday's Game Two.  The Braves'
     Dir of Ticket Sales Paul Adams said the team is "close to
     capacity," for today's ballgame, but can still accommodate
     standing-room-only ticket customers (THE DAILY).

          The Rockies announced Monday that Oren Benton has
     stepped down as Vice Chair, ending his association with the
     club, according to Tony DeMarco of the DENVER POST. 
     Negotiations for the purchase of his shares in the club by
     Majority Owner Jerry McMorris and Vice Chair Charles Monfort
     continue.  Benton filed for bankruptcy in February '95,
     claiming he was $400M in debt.  His shares in the team,
     estimated at 23% and worth between $30-40M, "are tied up in
     that litigation."  McMorris said that Benton's departure
     "will not result in a takeover of the principal ownership of
     the club by Monfort, a rumor that has been circulating
     around the club in recent days."  McMorris: "In fact, both
     Charlie and I will take on more (of the team), and there
     will be no change in our roles" (DENVER POST, 9/30).