George Brett's interest in the Royals is "teetering"
     but that "shouldn't be interpreted as throwing in the towel. 
     Not yet," according to Jeffrey Flanagan of the K.C. STAR. 
     Brett: "Two years ago, trying to buy the Royals was very
     appealing.  Very appealing.  But now?  I don't know.  Let's
     just say it is less appealing than it was.  Am I interested? 
     Yes.  As interested as I was?  No."  If Brett's group is to
     become "a serious contender to buy the club, Brett said it
     would need a big-time investor" such as Gateway 2000 Founder
     Ted Waitt, who is among those included in his potential
     ownership group.  However, Brett has not spoken to Waitt or
     anyone else from his ownership group for "some time" (K.C.
     STAR, 10/1).  In other news, the Royals increased ticket
     prices $1 across the board, their first increase in five
     years.  Tickets are now $6-15. The team also created a new
     ticket category, youth general admission, which sells for $3
     a ticket to fans 14 and younger.  Parking also increased $1,
     up to $6 a game (Dick Kaegel, K.C. STAR, 10/1).

          NFL Oilers Owner Bud Adams said he's "under no pressure
     from the NFL or Nashville officials" to break his two-year
     lease in Memphis and move to Nashville, according to Thomas
     Harding of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL.  Adams: "I said I
     want to play there for two years, and that's what we intend
     to do.  But I can't go broke doing it. ... We're planning on
     being there unless everything falls completely apart.  I
     can't see that happening."  NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
     has reportedly spoken with Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen,
     but NFL VP/Communications Joe Browne said Tagliabue "merely
     wanted Bredesen's thoughts on the Memphis situation." 
     Bredesen said he knows of "no substantive discussions" about
     the Oilers leaving Memphis early (COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/1). 
          LUV THE GOV?  TN Gov. Don Sundquist said he thinks the
     Oilers "ought to change their names and do a better job of
     marketing the team in Memphis, but also believes the city is
     'making a mistake' in not supporting the team."  Sundquist:
     "I think Memphis is making a mistake -- whether they (the
     Oilers) do marketing or don't do marketing -- in not
     supporting the team" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/1).

          Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner told N.Y. radio
     station WCBS-AM yesterday that "he might diminish his role"
     as team owner if they win the World Series: "I think that
     might be the time to think about a lot less involvement. 
     I'm thinking of less involvement every day" (AP, 10/1).
     ...MLS Commissioner Doug Logan, on the Dallas Burn, whose
     attendance dipped 40% this year, the biggest drop in the
     league: "I can offer iron-clad assurances that Dallas will
     be part of this league for as far as the eye can see.  MLS
     soccer will work in Dallas" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/1).
     ...The AFL will expand to Buffalo for the '99 season.  The
     franchise will be headed up by Mark Hamister, Chair & CEO of
     Buffalo Sports Enterprise, who will be the owner of the AFL
     team and sit on the AFL Board of Directors (AFL).

          The leasing of their 100th suite puts the Senators more
     than 25 leased boxes ahead of last year's total, according
     to Don Brennan of the OTTAWA SUN.  The team has also sold
     9,400 season-tickets, which is up almost 1,300 from the '96-
     97 season.  Senators CEO Roy Mlakar: "We are happy with the
     direction our season tickets are heading.  The team is on
     pace for an approximate 25% increase from last season, which
     has to be one of the highest increases in the league."  The
     team "had hoped" to hit 10,000 season-ticket sales before
     the start of the season to "be on pace to next season have
     the 12,000 season ticket holders they deem needed" to keep
     them competitive (OTTAWA SUN, 9/30).  
          MORE FROM OTTAWA: In selling 100 suites in '97, the
     team brought in C$2.16M more in sales than in '96.  The team
     is aiming for 120 suites sold/leased per game.  In terms of
     advertising at the Corel Centre, the team has sold out all
     rinkboards and is currently installing additional rotational
     boards to fit client demands (THE DAILY).
          OILERS: In Edmonton, Terry Jones reports that the first
     five games of the season for the NHL Oilers "are looking
     like sellouts.  And there will be more, many more, where
     that came from."  The Oilers will start the season with
     13,303 season tickets.  Team VP Doug Piper: "We are now
     virtually sold out of the Oilers inventory ... board signs,
     the ice advertising and the scoreboard.  If we're not
     100[%], we're certainly at 95[%]" (EDMONTON SUN, 10/1). 

          "Even as a deal to sell the Twins appears imminent,
     advocates for a new ballpark are suggesting" to MN Gov. Arne
     Carlson that he "delay calling a special legislative session
     so they can round up more votes," a spokesperson for Carlson
     said Tuesday, according to Whereatt & Weiner of the
     Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  But Carlson is "refusing" any
     delay and his staff is working with legislative leaders to
     decide on a day during the week of October 20 to hold a
     special session.  Meanwhile, Twins President Jerry Bell said
     that an agreement to sell the Twins to NC businessman Don
     Beaver "is close and could be nailed down as soon as
     Thursday."  Bell "denied reports that Beaver would be in the
     Twin Cities today to sign a deal."  Twins Owner Carl Pohlad
     will be out of town today (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/1). 
     Beaver, on Tuesday, said, "We haven't submitted anything
     written yet" (AP/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/1).