The Louisiana IceGators, a first-year ECHL franchise, lead
the league with attendance close to 10,000 a game and 17 sellouts
in 18 games. Gators fan Malcolm Thibodaux: "It's the biggest
thing that's happening in Lafayette" (AP/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH,
3/10)....A British Duke once hailed as the savior of the
Lightning will stand trial this week in federal court on charges
of trying to defraud team backers and banks out of $28M. Angus
Charles Drogo Montagu, the 12th Duke of Manchester (referred to
by team officials as "your grace"), had promised to invest up to
$50M for the team's franchise fee in exchange for advance fees of
up to $3M. The deal collapsed and the team lost about $50,000
before the Duke and his retinue were caught and indicted (TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 3/12)....More than 600 Indians fans lined up Saturday in
Cleveland for an additional 115,000 tickets. The club had sold
out all tickets for the '96 season. As of Sunday, 35,000 were
still available (CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, 3/10)....The CBA Chicago
Rockers will move to LaCrosse, WI, next season -- contingent upon
the sale of 2,000 season tickets (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/12)....Orca
Bay Entertainment has purchased a Boeing 727 to supplement travel
on Air Canada for its teams, the Canucks and Grizzlies (Orca
Bay).
