ABA 2000 "has moved back its agenda by announcing plans
to begin play" in November, rather than playing an
"abbreviated" 40-game schedule beginning this month,
according to Dave Mackall of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW.
Mackall writes that ABA 2000 officials "decided to begin
play in the fall to coincide with the NBA season and to
allow more time for teams to establish themselves." Mackall
notes that Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit,
Jacksonville, K.C., Las Vegas, Long Island, San Jose and
Tampa all have teams tentatively scheduled to play. ABA
2000 President Gerald Williams said that Monterey, Mexico,
Calgary, Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Norfolk and L.A.
are "early considerations" for expansion franchises for the
2001 season (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 1/25).
TAKING A GAMBLE: In Las Vegas, Mark Anderson noted that
the ABA 2000 Las Vegas franchise will play in the 18,500-
seat Thomas & Mack Center, but with poor attendance it could
move to the 2,600-seat Cox Pavilion, which opens in December
(LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/22).
