The Astros' lease at Osceola County Stadium expires at the
end of spring training, and Owner Drayton McLane said the '97
site is "undetermined at this point. Our intention is to stay
here, but we've got to get better attendance." The Astros have
ranked last in Grapefruit League attendance over the last three
seasons (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/20)....As part of their '96
marketing campaign, the Brewers have published a pricing guide
for promotional business with the team this season. The 14-page
brochure lists areas of the stadium which are for sale, all the
promotions for the season, and special events available for
advertisers. The most expensive promotion is one in which mitts
or umbrellas are given out ($70,000), and the most expensive sign
is the top panel of the main scoreboard at $150,000 (MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/16)....Leon Searcy rejected the Eagles' six-
year, $18M contract offer for a five-year $17M offer by the
Jaguars. He favored Florida because the state has no state
income tax, while Philadelphia has a city wage tax of 4.86%
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/20)....A S.F. EXAMINER poll shows 70%
are opposed to the "yet-to-be formally announced" change in 49ers
uniforms (ESPN, 2/19)....In the battle to lure or keep MLB teams
in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, Disney officials have
talked with a few teams regarding their new 7,500 seat ballpark
(ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/18).
