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Leagues and Governing Bodies

EARLY GATE NUMBERS DOWN AT NBA; LAURIE TO CONSIDER ROCKETS?

          The NBA "has an attendance problem this season,"
     according to Craig Daniels of the TORONTO SUN, who writes,
     "All those empty seats you've been noticing on highlight
     packages aren't an illusion."  Daniels reports that
     attendance "has fallen" in 16 of 29 cities and the numbers
     are "being skewed by the new arenas."  Daniels: "It doesn't
     look bad at first glance, but the severity is being masked
     by all the new arenas that are being brought on line this
     season."  Daniels notes that aside from the Nuggets, Pacers,
     Clippers and Lakers -- who are playing in new arenas -- and
     the T'Wolves and Kings -- whose numbers have been "bumped
     artificially" by a game in the Tokyo Dome -- only six teams
     are "experiencing increases": the Cavaliers, Bucks, 76ers,
     Trail Blazers and Suns.  Pistons F Grant Hill: "I don't know
     what the problem is.  Is it (satellite) TV, or is it the
     expense (of a ticket)?  I don't know.  It could be all of
     the above.  It could be the same problem baseball went
     through (following labour trouble)" (TORONTO SUN, 11/16).
          ROUND BALL: In Toronto, Maraschiello & Zicarelli report
     that the Raptors have "yet to sell out a game" at the Air
     Canada Centre.  Raptors President Richard Peddie: "Am I
     disappointed?  No.  Am I discouraged?  No.  It just means
     that we have to work harder" (TORONTO SUN, 11/16).
          ROCKETS FANS NOT BLASTING OFF: In Houston, Jonathan
     Feigen reports that the Rockets' 176-game sellout streak at
     the Compaq Center "ended" on opening night and the team has
     "yet to begin another."  Feigen: "The failure to move
     tickets could be a long-term concern."  Rockets COO George
     Postolos: "The demand for tickets in the upper bowl is
     weaker than it's been in the recent past.  Part of the
     reason may be we have had more focus on the arena campaign
     than a ticket sales campaign" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/16).
     ...In N.Y., Peter Vecsey cites sources as saying that
     Blues/Kiel Center Owner Bill Laurie is "close to backing
     out" of a deal for the Grizzlies and is "now leaning toward
     buying" the Rockets (N.Y. POST, 11/16).
          DEAL: In Seattle, Angelo Bruscas reported that the
     Ackerley Group -- the parent company of the Sonics,
     Seattle's WNBA expansion team and Full House Sports &
     Entertainment -- "has agreed to sell" for $300M its outdoor
     billboard businesses in Miami, West Palm Beach and Ft.
     Lauderdale to Eller Media (SEATTLE P-I, 11/15).

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