FLEETCENTER DEFENDS VENDORS AFTER REPORT QUESTIONS ETHICS

          FleetCenter concession officials yesterday said the
     arena's "strict inventory controls make it highly unlikely
     that hot dog and soda vendors could commit fraud," according
     to Robin Washington of the BOSTON HERALD.  The newspaper
     reported Wednesday (See THE DAILY, 1/12) that "numerous
     vendors at two games were observed charging customers the
     full price of items, then entering lesser amounts on cash
     registers."  Sportservice handles the concessions at the
     FleetCenter, both of which are subsidiaries of Delaware
     North.  FleetCenter Sportservice GM Jerry Freed said,
     "Everything is tracked on a central computer, the same as if
     you went into a McDonald's or Wendy's or Burger King."
     FleetCenter officials said that company controls "truthfully
     reflect sales records submitted" to the state Dept. of
     Revenue to determine sales tax (BOSTON HERALD, 1/14).