CHECKERS HOPE FOR CHUBBY ATTENDANCE FIGURES

          The ECHL Charlotte Checkers are looking to "reverse
     declining fan interest" by improving marketing, adding
     sponsors and selling more tickets, according to Erik
     Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL.  The Checkers
     averaged 4,336 fans per game last year at 10,000-seat
     Independence Arena, a 16% drop from the '96-'97 season. 
     Season-ticket sales are down 50% in the past four years to
     2,100 this season.  To put an "emphasis on building the
     franchise's fortunes," Owner Tim Braswell hired former
     Charlotte Coliseum Authority Managing Dir Steve Camp as the
     team's new GM.  Camp, who is "well-connected and liked among
     the city's business elite," hired Luquire George Andrews,
     the NFL Panthers' marketing agency, to help promote the
     team, and increased the team's marketing budget by 10% to
     $250,000.  Sponsorships, which sell for $10,000 to $50,000,
     will bring in around $350,000 this year, "representing a
     slight increase" over '97.  Merchandise sales are targeted
     for a 5% gain to $200,000.  Overall, Spanberg reports that
     the Checkers' total revenue will grow by 5% to 10% in '98,
     "nearing" $3M (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/19).