8-K

 
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                    FORM 8-K
 
               CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
         DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): DECEMBER 4, 1996
 
                             THE FINISH LINE, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                                                   
              DELAWARE                   0-20184                   35-1537210
 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)  (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION
          INCORPORATION)                                              NO.)
         

   
 

          3308 N. MITTHOEFFER ROAD                             46236
            INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA                            (ZIP CODE)
   (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES

 
       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INLCUDING AREA CODE: (317) 899-1022
 
                                      NONE
         (FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)
 
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

  On December 4, 1996, The Finish Line, Inc. issued the press release attached 
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

  The following exhibit is filed with this report on Form 8-K:

 
 
     EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION
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        99.1        Press Release of The Finish Line, Inc. dated December 4, 1996
 

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                                   SIGNATURES
 
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
                                          THE FINISH LINE, INC.
 
Dated: December 4, 1996                     By: /s/ Steven J. Schneider
                                            ___________________________________
                                            Steven J. Schneider,
                                            Vice President--Finance and
                                            Chief Financial Officer
 
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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

 
 
     EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION
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        99.1        Press Release of The Finish Line, Inc., dated December 4, 1996
 

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EX-99.1

 
FINISH LINE REPORTS RECORD 3RD QUARTER SALES AND 17% SAME STORE SALES INCREASE

  Business Editors

  INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1996--The Finish Line, Inc. 
(NASDAQ:FINL) reported net sales of $73,010,000 for the 3rd quarter ended 
November 30, 1996, an increase of 38% (thirty-eight percent) over net sales of 
$52,729,000 for the same quarter of the prior year.

  The Company's comparable store net sales for the 3rd quarter increased 17%
(seventeen percent) versus a 1% (one percent) increase for the same period last
year. Comparable footwear net sales increased 16% (sixteen percent) and
comparable activewear/accessories net sales increased 19% (nineteen percent)
during the same period.

  For the nine months ended November 30, 1996, net sales were $235,760,000, a
39% (thirty-nine percent) increase over net sales of $169,532,000, reported for
the first nine months of last year. On a year-to-date basis, comparable store
net sales increased 16% (sixteen percent). 

  The Company has experienced, and expects to continue to experience, 
significant variability in net sales and comparable store net sales from 
quarter to quarter. Therefore, the results of the periods presented herein are 
not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other period or
the full year.

  On November 15, 1996 the Company filed a registration statement relating to 
3,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock (of which 2,400,000 shares will be 
offered by the Company and 600,000 will be offered by four selling stockholders 
of the Company) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has not yet 
become effective.  These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be 
accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.  This 
press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an 
offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in 
which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration 
or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.

  A prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained from Smith Barney 
Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY, 10013, (212) 816-6000; A.G. Edwards & 
Sons, Inc., One North Jefferson, St. Louis, MO, 63103, (314) 955-3000; or 
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., Oppenheimer Tower, World Financial Center, New York, 
NY, 10281, (212) 667-7000.

  The Finish Line is a specialty retailer of men's, women's and children's brand
name athletic and leisure footwear, activewear and accessories. At November 30,
1996, the Company operated 251 stores compared to 221 at November 30, 1995, an
increase of 14% (fourteen percent). Total square feet approximated 1,084,000' at
November 30, 1996 a 24% (twenty-four percent) increase over 875,000' open at the
same time last year.


  CONTACT: The Finish Line, Inc., Indianapolis
           Kevin Wampler, 317/899-1022 ext. 3220
           Steven J. Schneider, 317/899-1022 ext. 3350