Since the Expos launched the first phase of their
     stadium project June 21, the team has raised "just over"
     C$20M from PSL sales, having sold 25 1/2 of the loge
     licenses available, "including 23 at $110,000 each,"
     according to Jack Todd of the Montreal GAZETTE.  The Expos
     have also sold 2,213 of the 18,000 PSLs needed to be sold
     "if this stadium is going to become a reality."  Most of the
     PSLs sold so far have been for the "more expensive" seats;
     986 of 1,314 $10,000 seats have been sold, while "only"
     eight of those in the $2,000 category and 206 of the $500
     seats have been bought.  Expos President Claude Brochu also 
     "confirmed" that he is "in the process" of negotiating a
     naming rights deal for the stadium for about C$40M.  Brochu
     said that "at least" three corporations are "still in the
     running."  Brochu also said that the team is "currently in
     the process of holding serious talks with the various levels
     of government" about some form of government assistance
     (GAZETTE, 11/27).  In Montreal, Ted Blackman calls the $20M
     raised so far by Brochu "a loose commitment ... for front
     pews from the devoted parish" (Montreal GAZETTE, 11/30).

          Sources close to Maple Leafs Owner Steve Stavro say
     that he "realizes ... that a partnership with the Raptors on
     a single arena is the best way" for his team to proceed, but
     that his "personal dislike" for Raptors Owner Allan Slaight
     is a "considerable obstacle," according to Shoalts & Grange
     of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.  Shoalts & Grange added that
     Stavro "wants any partnership to be formed on his terms,"
     and at present believes that he can "wait out" Slaight, and
     when the Raptors Owner "tires of the expense" of building an
     arena and maintaining his team, Stavro can "step in to buy
     majority control of the Raptors and the arena for a relative
     song."  Another "scenario put forward" has Slaight selling
     control of the Raptors to MLG Minority Partner Larry
     Tanenbaum and selling the Air Canada Centre to a "new
     company that would jointly be owned by the Leafs and
     Raptors" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/29).  Raptors President
     Richard Peddie "didn't rule out the Leafs coming into" the
     Air Canada Centre "at some future date," but he and Slaight
     "denied" that any talks were ongoing between the two
     franchises (Chris Young, TORONTO STAR, 11/28).

          The opening of the MCI Center on Tuesday night was
     featured in a special section in Sunday's WASHINGTON POST. 
     For Washington Sports Chair Abe Pollin, construction of the
     new facility was a "huge challenge ... a four-year struggle,
     slowed for a half year by contaminated soil, a paralyzing
     snowstorm and asbestos," according to Heath & Montgomery. 
     Other setbacks included "so-called 'smart seats' that didn't
     work" and a successful lawsuit by the Paralyzed Veterans of
     America to increase the number of seats for wheelchair-bound
     spectators.  Heath & Montgomery: "Through it all, Pollin has
     been financially stretched, keeping US Airways Arena going,
     signing basketball and hockey players to million-dollar
     contracts and footing the bill for the construction of the
     MCI Center."  Pollin: "I've got everything I've ever done in
     my life on the line.  I've pledged everything.  My advisers
     think I'm nuts.  But I wanted to do something special for my
     town" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/30).  Pollin added in a meeting
     with POST editors that tickets to sports events are "too
     expensive" and that leagues should examine player salaries
     "as a way to curtail" admission prices.  Pollin: "It bothers
     me enormously that no longer can a family of four see a
     game.  What's happened is the [player] salaries are so high,
     we have to keep raising ticket prices.  I don't want to
     raise my prices again" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/30).
          NOTES: With traffic a concern, MCI Center execs hope to
     keep the number of vehicles "under" 5,000 for each game.
     Pollin said that he hopes that half the fans, or 10,000
     people, will take the Metro....The arena has 109 luxury
     suites costing $100-175,000 a year, with a minimum five-year
     lease.  Those in luxury suites or the 3,000 premium club
     seats "will be provided separate parking, enter a separate
     entrance and dine in separate restaurants barred to the
     arena's 15,680 ordinary ticket holders."....Barry Silberman,
     President of Centre Management, which runs the MCI Center,
     said that the facility will host "about 200 events" a year.
     ...Pollin said that despite MCI's recent merger with
     WorldCom, he "expects" the name to remain MCI Center in
     accordance with the 13-year, $44M deal (WASHINGTON POST,
     11/30)....Some 700 tickets for Tuesday's opener, the Sonics-
     Wizards on TNT, "were released for sale yesterday."  The
     game had been listed as a sellout (WASHINGTON POST, 12/1).