WESTWARD HO! NHL PANTHERS MARKET TO FL'S WEST COAST FANS

          The NHL Panthers have "stepped up efforts to recruit
     fans" on FL's west coast now that the team plays "a mere" 90
     minutes from Naples, according to Alan Snel of the Ft.
     Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL.  The Panthers have increased their
     west cost advertising "to coax fans to cross the state." 
     Expecting the "west coast fan base to increase" from 3% to
     6%, the team will run "at least" two 50-passenger buses from
     the west coast to the National Car Rental Center.  The team
     will also mail game information to west coast sports bars. 
     Team execs acknowledge that moving the team from downtown
     Miami will "mean a small loss of Miami-Dade County fans who
     won't make the trip" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 10/14).