With his move to Baltimore approved by the NFL, Browns Owner
Art Modell will now focus on getting his franchise in order.
Modell said team officials will meet in their new Baltimore
offices today to begin discussion on season ticket prices and
availability, "as well as orchestrating a massive marketing
campaign." Modell, on ticket prices: "We'd like to stay in the
middle of the pack of the league in pricing." The team is
expected to practice at the Colts' old facility in Owings Mills,
MD, which should be available March 1 (Mike Preston, Baltimore
SUN, 2/10). While Modell wants "a lot of seats" to be free from
PSLs, he claims PSLs "have gotten a bad rap" (Leonard Shapiro,
WASHINGTON POST, 2/10).
NEW TEAM, OLD FACES? Sources close to Modell said he will
still try to convince Don Shula to become the team's top football
executive (WASHINGTON POST, 2/10).
NAME GAME: In Akron, Bart Hubbuch reports "Bombers" is the
top choice because it is already licensed with the NFL (Akron
BEACON JOURNAL, 2/10). But the Baltimore SUN reports team VP
Dave Modell "has practically ruled out 'Bombers,'" and said they
will use the results of a survey during the city's '93 expansion
bid. The team will also have a contest sponsored by local media.
Art Modell said he has had discussions with Colts Owner Jim Irsay
on bringing the Colts name back to Baltimore, but Irsay said it
was "highly improbable" (Mike Preston, Baltimore SUN, 2/10).
