LIGHTNING STRIKING OUT? TEAM TOUGH SELL TO POTENTIAL BUYERS

          Despite the "best efforts" of Lightning Owner Art
     Williams, the team is a "difficult sell to prospective
     ownership groups," according to Ira Kaufman of the TAMPA
     TRIBUNE, who wrote that another last place season and a 20%
     drop in average attendance give "any potential suitor cause
     to pause."  Documents show that the Lightning "may have been
     just 10 days away from Chapter 11 when Williams acquired the
     team and rights to the Ice Palace" on May 18 for $117M. But
     Williams "figures" he'll lose $20M this season, due in part
     to the fact that the team is playing to 55% capacity at the
     Ice Palace, compared to the 90.5% league average.  The
     team's value "will likely" drop below $38M, and the team has
     "failed" to ink a title sponsor for the arena, "depriving
     Williams of a substantial revenue stream."  One potential
     buyer said, "The team's profile is so bad.  It would be
     great if they were just selling the building.  The sheer
     hockey numbers are terrible" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/15).