STUDY REVEALS RESULTS OF SPORTS TRAVEL; YOU MAY BE SURPRISED

          A study by the Travel Industry Association of America
     reveals that Americans took "60 million trips last year to
     attend" pro or amateur sporting events as either a spectator
     or a participant, according to Judith Evans of the
     WASHINGTON POST, who writes that sports event travel,
     defined as a trip of 50 miles or more, "represents a
     flourishing segment of the hospitality industry, generating"
     $27B in annual consumer spending and "accounting for nearly
     6% of the 1.2 billion vacation trips taken nationwide." 
     Results of the survey, which was based on a mail survey of
     240,000 adults and phone inquires to 1,200 households,
     indicate that Chicago and Atlanta were ranked as the top two
     destinations for sports travelers.  The "average" sports
     event traveler is 45 years old, and "more than half" are
     between the ages of 35 to 54.  "More than" 80% are employed
     full time (WASHINGTON POST, 8/26).