AS TEAM GETS ALL-STAR GAME, PANTHERS ALSO GET TWO SUITORS

          NHL Panthers President Bill Torrey said that the team
     is negotiating with "two serious bidders" interested in the
     team, according to Craig Dolch of the PALM BEACH POST. 
     Torrey: "I would say right now there's two (prospective
     buyers) on a more active basis.  There's a third that has
     expressed some interest, but not to the extent of the other
     two."  Meanwhile, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that he
     didn't think "a deal for the Panthers was imminent" (P.B.
     POST, 12/12).  The news comes as the NHL awarded the 2003
     All-Star Game to the Panthers. Broward County Commissioner
     John Rodstrom, Jr. said that the event could generate more
     than $10M in direct economic impact to South FL.  Bettman:
     "We believe in excess of 200,000 people will participate in
     the events of All-Star weekend" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/12).