Is the Bay Area big enough to support two NFL teams? That's
what columnist Ann Killion asks in this weekend's SAN JOSE
MERCURY NEWS. Killion points out that the Raiders' failure to
sell out last week's game with the Seahawks is no surprise.
Killion: "The Bay area has never before supported two pro
football teams, not in the definition of 'support' that today's
economic climate demands." Killion notes the 49ers never sold
out a season at Candlestick before the Raiders moved to L.A.
Also, while the clubs may be competing for different season
ticket customers, they are after the same "local corporate
dollars" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/15)....The Padres are raising
ticket prices in what they are calling "vertical pricing." The
club will boost prices for its best seats, but not change low
cost tickets in the bleachers, upper deck and grandstand. Chris
Jenkins of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE writes the announcement
"was hardly with the idea of striking while the iron's hot," as
the club finished last in attendance in '94 and saw a drop of 12%
this year (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/13)....The CFL's
Shreveport Pirates are reportedly considering a relocation to
Hampton Roads, VA. The club would play at 25,400-seat Foreman
field on the Old Dominion campus. Owner Bernie Glieberman is
also considering Milwaukee and Columbus, OH, but prefers VA and
wants a new stadium. Local officials "apparently would be more
inclined" to build a new stadium for a team if the CFL can obtain
a national TV contract (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 10/12)....In
Toronto, William Houston reports Molson was interested in
acquiring Maple Leaf Gardens from the Ballard Estate in '91 for a
higher price than it was eventually sold to estate Executor Steve
Stavro in '94 (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/16)....New Brunswick
Broadcasting Mogul Rick Buckingham has reportedly incorporated
and registered the name "Toronto Slam" for an Arena Football
League franchise that would begin play next season at Maple Leaf
Gardens (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/16).