CANUCKS SEE HOPE, BUT KNOW THAT TEAM MUST SELL MORE TICKETS

          There is "finally marketing optimism" for the Canucks
     that was "buoyed by a second-half surge that put more people
     in the seats" at GM Place, according to Ben Kuzma of the
     Vancouver PROVINCE, who wrote that the team lost "more than"
     C$30M last season and is "projected to lose" C$20-25M this
     season.  But Kuzma wrote that the "task at hand to improve
     the bottom line for owner John McCaw won't be easy."  The
     team's season-ticket sales have "plummeted" to about 7,500,
     and during the off-season, one-third of 88 luxury suites for
     Canucks games are up for renewal, as are the team's TV
     rights.  Shortfalls in revenue projections indicate that the
     club "won't even qualify" for the NHL's Canadian Assistance
     Plan, "worth an estimated" US$2.5M annually.  Orca Bay
     Sports & Entertainment COO David Cobb: "We're optimistic. 
     If we can get 12,000 season tickets that gives us an
     opportunity to sell out every game" (Van. PROVINCE, 4/10).