NAPBL ATTENDANCE SHOWS SOME HOT MARKET FOR MINOR LEAGUE

          The NAPBL drew 34,691,716 fans during the '97 regular
     season, an average of 3,466 fans per game.  For a complete
     list of league attendance, see (#33).  The AAA Int'l League
     had the highest attendance of any league, drawing over 4.2
     million fans, while the AAA American Association was second,
     with over 3.67 million attendees.  Among individual teams,
     the AAA Buffalo Bisons had the top attendance of any minor
     league franchise in '97 with 696,193, an average of 11,603
     per game.  That was followed by the AAA Indianapolis Indians
     with 9,225 per game, the AAA Salt Lake Buzz at 8,259 per
     game; the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps at 8,000; the
     Class A Lansing Lugnuts with 7,813 and the AAA Rochester Red
     Wings at 7,766.  Other teams of note: For 38 games, the A-
     Short Portland, OR, Rockies averaged 5,612 and for 38 games,
     the A-Short Erie, PA, Sea Wolves averaged 5,163 (NAPBL).