FRANCHISE NOTES

     The NPSL has added its 15th team, the Philadelphia Kixx.
Edward Tepper, one of the founders of MISL in the '70s, will head
the ownership group.  The Kixx will play at the CoreStates
Spectrum beginning in '96-97 (NPSL)....In Houston, Fran
Blineberry writes of the "responsibility" the Astros have in
keeping the team in Houston:  "The Astros must rethink and revamp
the way they present their product to the public and the
individual players must be part of the solution, if there is to
be the slightest chance for success" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
11/15)....The CFL Shreveport Pirates "unexpectedly" announced
they are moving to Hampton Roads, VA.  Stallions Owner Jim
Speros, who also was interested in moving to VA, claims to own
the "rights to that marketplace."  But CFL officials who
researched the Stallions' Baltimore lease said Speros has no
territorial rights in Hampton Roads (VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 11/15).