THE LEAGUE'S NEWEST ARENA: AFL WILL FORM A MINOR LEAGUE

          The AFL has established a two-division minor league to
     begin play in April 2000, to be named "af2," according to
     the AP.  The af2 calls for a minimum of six teams in each
     division to play in arenas with seating capacities between
     4,000 and 12,000.  Teams would travel by bus and operate
     under current AFL rules.  The schedule would run from April-
     August with a championship game "probably" played a week
     before the ArenaBowl.  Though "no cities have been
     confirmed," those being "considered" include Biloxi, Topeka,
     Little Rock and the Quad Cities area of IL-IA (AP, 2/26).