FRANCHISE NOTES

          NHL: In Edmonton, Alberta Treasury Branches will
     announce today whether it will accept a local group's offer
     to buy the NHL Oilers.  Current Owner Peter Pocklington said
     that the bid will be accepted, but the deal does not include
     Coliseum Management Inc., which holds the lease on the
     Coliseum (JOURNAL, 3/18)....The Predators said yesterday
     they are 1,195 season tickets away from meeting the NHL's
     condition of 12,000 season tickets by March 31 (Predators).
          NOTES: NFL VP/Communications Greg Aiello said that
     Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "probably won't" make a decision
     on the Vikings ownership dispute between Tom Clancy and team
     President Roger Headrick "until Thursday" (PIONEER PRESS,
     3/18)....Sonics Owner Barry Ackerley lent the team's plane
     to the Univ. of WA Huskies for their flight to Greensboro,
     NC, for their Sweet 16 appearance (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/17).