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katrina.waugh@roanoke.com 981-3127

There's still no lease for next season and a potential sale is on hold, but the Roanoke Express has started selling for the 2004-05 season.

"The team will be back next year, whether I am or not," said Express general manager and part-owner Chris Pollock. "So I need to do what I can to keep the value."

Season tickets went on sale Monday with a price increase of $35 to $50 a seat, and Pollock said the team was making contacts for corporate sales and has actually lowered its corporate sponsorship prices.

Pollock said the two parties who have expressed interest in buying the team are both waiting for a new lease to be in place before negotiating a purchase.

Pollock and the Roanoke Civic Center have been negotiating a lease for the upcoming season, but have not yet finalized it and gotten city council approval.

Last year, the Express started season ticket sales for the 2003-04 season in February, locking in prices, and found itself in trouble when the city council later raised the entertainment tax and facilities fees. The team had to foot the added cost.

At least $36 of this year's increase in ticket price will cover that expense, according to Greg Marsten, director of group sales.

Season-ticket holders from the 2003-04 season must renew by July 1 to guarantee their same seat location.

Children's tickets in the gold, silver and platinum sections will go up $10 to $200 for the 36-game season. Platinum tickets have risen $50 to $450 and gold seats have gone up $35 to $390. Silver tickets are up $50 to $300.

Corporate box tickets will range from $610 in the front row to $540 in the back. Ice level seats will range from $575 in the front to $505 in the back.

Season-ticket prices represent as much as 17 percent discount over the individual game ticket prices listed on the team's Web site: $6 for children, $10 for silver, $13 for gold, $15 for platinum, $20 for ice level front, $18 for ice level back, $21 for corporate box seats front and $19 for corporate box seats back.

The team has also instituted payment plans for both season-ticket buyers and corporate sponsors.