DALLAS: An editorial in the DALLAS MORNING NEWS said the
"fast actions" by the Dallas City Council "should reaffirm" the
city's commitment to keeping the Mavs and Stars downtown. But
the movement could be "meaningless" if council members "persist
in leveling threats" at the two franchises (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
9/24).
DETROIT: The Lions would like to negotiate a new deal to
continue playing in the Silverdome, "but not under the present
lease." The current deal does not give the team a share of
revenues from concessions, suite rentals, parking and
advertising. "From a club's standpoint, the Lions have one of
the worst leases" in pro sports. An example of the Lions revenue
problems is the "woeful" sale of private boxes, as only 45 of the
stadium's 102 suites are rented for 1994 (Kupelian & O'Hara,
DETROIT NEWS, 9/25).
BUT THEY'RE STILL FLYIN' THE LION: The "Flyin Lion," the
remote-control mascot of the Detroit Lions will "soar" again in
the Silverdome. The mascot was the target of the Pontiac Stadium
Authority who claimed it "violates their exclusive rights to
control advertising in the stadium." The Lion is sponsored by
the Target department store chain (Kupelian & O'Hara, DETROIT
NEWS, 9/25).
TAMPA: The city of Tampa "chipped" in $3.4M to buy land for
the downtown hockey arena as the Lightning were "on the verge" of
missing a costly deadline. As a condition of the deal, the
Lightning are to have construction under way by Saturday, or
financial documents showing the project had been "secured." But
with those conditions still up in the air, city officials will
try to extend the deadline to December 31. Lightning Governor
David LeFevre said work on the project is "imminent" (Ken Koehn,
TAMPA TRIBUNE, 9/27).
ATLANTA: Ailene Voisin states her case to keep the Hawks in
the city. "The Hawks simply do not belong in the suburb. ... Get
the NBA drift? Suburbs are out. Inner cities are in" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 9/27).
WINNIPEG: The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is "joining a
growing list of opponents angered" by the proposed site for a new
Jets arena. The Assembly is concerned that the building on the
site would destroy aboriginal artifacts. Cam Osler, dir. of
development with the Manitoba Entertainment Complex said the
arena would protect any artifacts until they could be recovered
when the arena is town down in the 21st century (CANADIAN PRESS,
9/27).
