South FL is "getting another professional franchise,"
according to Sharon Robb of the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL,
who reports that the Heat plan to announce today that the
team has reached the 5,500 WNBA-required season-ticket goal
by Friday's deadline to "secure one of four new franchises
for the 2000 season." The Heat follow the Pacers, Trail
Blazers and Sonics in securing the season-ticket deposits
(Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 10/14). AT&T Wireless bought
the last 500 tickets to meet the goal (MIAMI HERALD, 10/14).
SEATTLE'S STANCE COMMENDED: A SEATTLE TIMES editorial
stated that the City Council's decision to have the city's
WNBA team pay a $100,000 deposit to play at KeyArena is "not
an unreasonable demand for [the] team." The editorial
called it the "right outcome for women's basketball fans and
for city taxpayers," who are now "protected if games are
canceled or the team folds" (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/13).
SPARKS REQUIRED TO PLAY AT STAPLES CENTER? In L.A.,
Earl Gustkey cites sources as saying that WNBA President Val
Ackerman is "insisting" that the Sparks play "a half-dozen
or eight" games at the Staples Center next summer, as part
of the team's 10-year renewal deal (L.A. TIMES, 10/14).