FALLING METROSTARS: MLS'S LOGAN WANTS BETTER PERFORMANCE

          The MLS MetroStars "remain a work in progress" and this
     year's low playoff attendance (11,686) "leads to discussions
     about the future of the team and questions about whether or
     not next season will be make-or-break" for the franchise,
     according to Ike Kuhns of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. 
     MetroStars GM Charlie Stillitano: "Next year is viewed by us
     as a critical year, but I don't think we see it as a make-
     or-break year.  Our goal for next year is to raise the
     [attendance] figure to 18,000, a modest raise [from this
     year's 16,519]."  The team has seen declining attendance
     since its inaugural season in '96 when it averaged 23,898
     per game.  Kuhns reported that increasing attendance and the
     team's visibility in the NY-NJ area "is a bone of contention
     between the team and the league office."  MLS Commissioner
     Doug Logan feels that having "an attractive team" in NY-NJ
     is "central" to the league's success, and that the
     MetroStars "need to do a better job in the marketing
     department" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 10/11).