1.   Because Smith, as chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports Inc., has taken a hard look at NASCAR ticket sales from across the country.

2.   Because the Sugar Bowl is worried about ticket sales.

3.   But a year later, Orange County is proving to be a tougher sell and it is affecting more than just Clippers ticket sales.

4.   December, usually a big month for ticket sales, will offer a meaningful yardstick on which direction sales are headed, Cloud said.

5.   The marketing department has very few doubts about Szczerbiak, who apparently has off-the-floor qualities that create interest and ticket sales.

6.   The reason this will hurt the league is because licensing, tickets sales, international TV and international licensing all flow from the quality of the product.

7.   They also have wondered what would happen to ticket sales for games against the same opponent, if that team is having a poor season.

8.   Was it really a virus that had suddenly gripped the challenger, they wondered, or had Akinwande actually tested positive for poor ticket sales?

9.   Despite the risk of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in advance ticket sales, many theater owners said they would follow the police suggestion.