Somewhere, Brad Watters smiles.

The Toronto Rock owner's antics in the week leading up to this season's NLL Champion's Cup final at Albany -- ranging from a public demand that the game be moved to Toronto to repeated whining that he didn't like the game's scheduled starting time -- brought an Attack franchise-record 9,289 fans to the Pepsi Arena for the game, which the Rock won, 13-12.

That crowd, along with the 5,074 fans who came out for a semifinal game against the Rochester Knighthawks a week earlier, has prompted Attack owner Herb Chorbajian to hold on to his franchise and keep indoor lacrosse in the Capital Region for a fourth season, beating a 1 June deadline to decided what to do with the team.

The announcement, made Friday, ends speculation that the Central Division champion Attack could be sold and relocated due to poor crowds and a flood of red ink. Only the Washington Power drew fewer fans than Albany's anemic average of 3,508 fans this season.

"I was encouraged by the last two games with the attendance. And I think lacrosse is gaining in popularity. I've never seen so much [media] coverage of high school and college lacrosse. Like I've always said, [lacrosse] isn't a mainstream sport, but it's gaining. I'm very positive looking ahead."

Pepsi Arena officials are glad the team is coming back.

"It's great that the fans that went to the championship game... got a chance to experience pro lacrosse, and many of the ones that I talked to after the game hoped the team would be back because they'd like to become a season-ticket holder," arena general manager Bob Belber said.

Chorbajian, who was awarded an expansion franchise in the summer of 1999, has yet to make a profit on the Attack, although he refuses to discuss the extent of his losses.

"Do I think I can [turn a profit] next year?" Chorbajian asked yesterday. "No."

He expressed faith that the Attack eventually will finish in the black, but will not commit to staying in Albany beyond the 2002-2003 season.

In the meantime, general manager Mike DeRossi must turn the postseason successes into regular season magic. The team had just shy of nine hundred season ticket holders this past season, with another 170 planning to sign up for next season.

As part of its announcement that it is coming back to the Capital Region, the Attack unveiled the prices of its season ticket plans -- $125 for adults (a $9 increase) and $60 for children 18 and younger.

Will the fans be seeing all their favorite Attack players, though? Signing All-Pro goaltender Rob Blasdell is pivotal in making that happen.

Blasdell has told the Attack he will return only if the club improves its travel conditions. The vast majority of the team, "Blazer" included, lives in southern Ontario and typically rides the bus to Albany for games. The Attack only flew for trips to Calgary, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.

"If [flying more often] doesn't happen, they're going to have a tough time getting guys back," Blasdell said.

Head coach Bob McMahon, who will return to the bench next season, promises to try finding "a happy medium" between flying and busing.