WNBA: In Chicago, Ron Rapoport writes that, despite
previous statements, the Bulls are now interested in
obtaining a WNBA franchise. VP/Marketing Steve Schanwald:
"We've heard nothing from the league. But we've told them
we'd be delighted to accept one whenever they want to put a
team in Chicago" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/22). In Toronto,
Daniels & Zicarelli report that WNBA insiders say that the
chances of Toronto getting one of the four WNBA expansion
franchises in 2000 are "virtually non-existent." Seattle,
Portland, Denver, Indiana and Boston are "identified as
targets" ahead of Toronto, as the league feels the Raptors
and Grizzlies "need to be further entrenched" before
expanding to the women's game (TORONTO SUN, 4/22).
NHL: About 1,500 tickets remain for tonight's Bruins-
Hurricanes playoff opener at the Greensboro Coliseum, but
Hurricanes Dir of Marketing & Communications Ken Lehner is
"expecting" a sellout, due to "average walk up [sales] of
about 1,300 to 1,500 on week nights" (NEWS & RECORD, 4/22).
NOTES: In Orange County, columnist Steve Bisheff wrote
on the NFL ownership situation in L.A.: "It is time to be
fair, instead of just smug and arrogant, and name Ed Roski
and Eli Broad as the new owners." Estimates have the NFL
asking for $650M for the franchise and an additional $350M
to rebuild the Coliseum. One member of the Roski-Broad
party: "I don't know if Ovitz has that kind of money. I know
my guys do" (OCR, 4/21).....An NFL source, on the league
working with Boston civic leaders to keep the Patriots in
MA: "We're not picking on Hartford. One of the lessons we
learned in Cleveland was that the league needs to be more
aggressive, more proactive before a team exhausts all its
stadium alternatives" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/22).
