PGA Tour VP Duke Butler puts Seattle's chances of
     becoming a Tour stop in '99 at "about" 90% and says the
     search for corporate sponsors is under way, according to
     Craig Smith of the SEATTLE TIMES.  Butler: "We're going to
     go straight forward on the Seattle path at least until June
     1 or so.  If we have corporate support by then, we're
     definitely coming there for an August event in 1999."  The 
     Tour is looking for a single sponsor to step forward with
     about $2M for title sponsorship, or it would search for
     "three or four" presenting sponsors (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/18).  

          The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Center estimates
     that this weekend's NCAA Men's Midwest Regional Tournament
     should generate about $2.5M in fan spending, according to
     Dan Hieb of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.  Between 10,000 and
     11,000 visitors are expected for the tournament, meaning
     each out-of-town fan will spend $227-$250 on hotel rooms,
     dinners and travel once in St. Louis (POST-DISPATCH, 3/19). 
          HOPES FOR A FINAL FOUR: St. Louis is one of five cities
     in the running to hold the Final Four in either 2003, 2004
     or 2005, and the "success of the regional will help" the
     NCAA make its decision.  Other cities being considered are
     Atlanta, Indianapolis, New Orleans and San Antonio.  A nine-
     member NCAA selection committee will pick the Final Four
     sites in June, and three of those nine are in St. Louis this
     week (Christopher Carey, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/19).