The Doral-Ryder Open attracted a record 53,000
     spectators for Sunday's final day (MIAMI HERALD, 3/9)....In
     honor of its 50th birthday, NASCAR will hold "NASCAR's Night
     in Hollywood -- A Golden Celebration," a black tie affair
     May 1 to honor the league's founders and heroes.  ESPN will
     air the event the following night, May 2, as a two-hour,
     prime-time special (NASCAR)....In Dallas, Steve Davis
     reported that there are only 2.5 million tickets available
     to the World Cup, "about 1 million fewer than at USA '94." 
     Each country gets 8% of the stadium's capacity, which leaves
     the U.S. delegation about 2,500-3,000 tickets.  Davis added
     that "even the media have felt the bite of limited tickets." 
     The French Organizing committee gave U.S. Soccer about 50
     media credentials to distribute (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/8).

          The financial impact of the NCAA Tournament was
     examined by CNN/SI's Bob Lorenz.  The NCAA projects $17.1M
     of gross revenue will be produced by this year's tournament,
     $600,000 "more than last year."  Lorenz also noted how
     tournament exposure benefits schools: "Connecticut [UConn]
     is a perfect example of a program that developed into a
     national power by becoming an NCAA Tournament regular."  In
     '88, the year UConn won the NIT, "the school netted less
     than $20,000 in merchandise sales."  Heading into its
     seventh NCAA tournament of the '90s, UConn's "net licensing
     revenue" now is more than $500,000 annually" (CNN, 3/7).
          HOCKEY: In Boston, Will McDonough wrote that the NCAA
     hockey tournament at the FleetCenter will be the "biggest
     ... of all time."  All three games are sold out, including
     both the afternoon and night games on April 2 (BOSTON GLOBE,
     3/8).  ESPN will offer cable and satellite subscribers the
     first round and nat'l quarterfinal games of the NCAA Hockey
     Championship Tournament on a pay-per-view basis March 27-29. 
     Suggested retail will be $29.95 for the complete eight-game
     package, and $14.95 for all games on any date (ESPN).