ASCENT BIDDING HEATS UP AS THREE NEW PARTIES SHOW INTEREST

          Ascent Entertainment is now being pursued by "at least
     three new parties [who] have expressed interest in buying
     the assets since the company reopened the door to more
     offers," said a source close to the bidding, according to
     Kaplan & Mullen of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL.  The
     potential bidders, who were "not identified" by the source,
     include some from outside CO and "are in addition to several
     possible buyers who previously expressed interest publicly." 
     One name mentioned as a potential suitor includes NHL Kings
     and Lakers co-Owner Phil Anschutz, who has been
     "aggressively buying concert and entertainment venues in the
     West" recently.  Though his NBA and NHL ties would prevent
     him from acquiring the Nuggets and the Avalanche, he could
     "divest" the teams and hold on to the Pepsi Center.  But a
     spokesperson for Anschutz's L.A. Arena Co. denied he was
     interested in Ascent last week and called it a "conflict of
     interest" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/5 issue).
          BORGEN SEEKS AVS: Borgen Investment Group, backed by
     Ascent shareholders Erik Borgen and George Gillett,
     "reiterated its court claim to buy" the Avalanche for $80M
     last week, pending the sale of Ascent to Bill and Nancy
     Laurie, according to Jeffrey Leib of the DENVER POST.  The
     group said in its filing that it continues "to be interested
     in formulating a bid for the three assets" (DEN. POST, 7/3).