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WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY, MRS. ROBINSON? CHANGES AT ASCENT

          Ascent Entertainment Group announced yesterday that
     Ascent Sports President Ellen Robinson has decided to leave
     the company, effective August 14.  Robinson had overseen the
     Nuggets and Avalanche for the past two years.  Ascent Sports
     Senior VP/Marketing Dennis Mannion will assume Robinson's
     duties in marketing, sales and operations.  Mannion joined
     Ascent in March after 17 years with the Phillies, most
     recently as VP/Marketing.  Ascent Sports will undergo other
     restructurings as well (Ascent Entertainment Group).
          MUTUAL DECISION: In Denver, Vicki Michaelis reports
     that rumors "have persisted in recent months that Robinson
     ... would be forced out."  Her decision, though, was
     characterized as a mutual one between Robinson and Ascent
     Entertainment President & CEO Charlie Lyons.  Robinson:
     "They're ready to go forward here, and I'm ready to move
     on."  Michaelis notes that a few weeks after Robinson was
     hired in '96, Ascent Sports announced it would no longer
     offer free parking to Nuggets season-ticket holders.  In
     October '96, the company announced it would guarantee '97-98
     Avalanche season tickets to those on a waiting list who
     would be willing to buy '96-97 Nuggets season tickets. 
     Michaelis: "The latter decision was criticized roundly, by
     fans, by media and even by Nuggets players.  It made
     Robinson a familiar, if unpopular, figure among Denver's
     sports fans."  Robinson: "That was a well-publicized
     mistake."  Robinson said she plans to remain in Denver, and
     said that she would consider other CEO positions, "perhaps
     at growth companies."  Such a job "likely would put her
     outside the sports realm."  In addition to Mannion, other
     top Ascent Sports execs who will divide Robinson's duties
     are VP/Corporate Sales Mike Arthur, VP/Ticket Sales &
     Operations Paul Andrews and VP/Broadcasting & Marketing Lou
     Personett (DENVER POST, 7/24).  In CO, Dina Bunn reports
     that colleagues and consultants who worked with Robinson
     "credit her with improving Ascent Sports management
     structure and the marketing activities" of both the Nuggets
     and Avalanche (Dina Bunn, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/24).  

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