EVEN IF HOUSTON BUILDS IT, WILL THEY COME?

     Astros officials are "distressed" more than 28% of the
882,631 fans who bought tickets for the first three months of the
season have not attended games, a no-show percentage, according
to team Senior VP Bob McClaren, that is "one of the highest" in
MLB.  The HOUSTON CHRONICLE's John Williams notes while ticket
sales are up 26% this year, most MLB teams average between 15-20%
in no-shows and the Astros' rate last year was 22%.  McClaren:
"While we hope a pennant drive during the second half picks
things up, this is not good and we will have to evaluate it."
Astros Owner Drayton McLane's criteria for keeping his team in
Houston include a new stadium and increased attendance.
Meanwhile, Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole said calls
to his office are "100 to one" against a $450-500M plan to build
a new Astros ballpark and renovate the Astrodome for football.
Eversole believes it is "unlikely" voters will support a stadium
referendum (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/26).