Whalers Owner Peter Karmanos labeled as "accurate" a N.Y.
TIMES report that he has discussed moving his team to MI to share
the Palace at Auburn Hills with the Pistons. However, Michael
Arace of the HARTFORD COURANT reports Karmanos dismissed the
story that he has spoken with Tom Wilson, President of the
Pistons and the Palace, as "a few sentences between friends."
Karmanos, who has "previously said he has not talked to anybody
about a franchise move," owns the Detroit Junior Whalers, who
play at the Palace. The Red Wings play at Joe Louis Arena in
downtown Detroit (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/18). In Hartford,
columnist Jeff Jacobs writes the Times piece undermines the
integrity of the Whalers' month-long campaign to raise 11,000
tickets. He writes, "Terrific timing, Pete. This 30-day
campaign needs to be pure and lily white to be a success. And
you cast your shadow on it" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/18). In
Detroit, Lambert & Niyo write that a Whalers-to-Detroit move
"would be almost impossible" considering that the Red Wings have
territorial rights and Karmanos and Wings Owner Mike Ilitch
"aren't the best of buddies" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/18).
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Meanwhile, the halfway point of the
campaign to sell 11,000 Whalers season tickets arrived with a
tally of 2,131 -- 1,197 renewals and 934 new seats. But
according to a "fairly conservative" estimate, the team expects
at least 3,203 more renewals, pushing the total to 5,334 after
two weeks. Also, the state and seven companies -- with more
expected this week -- have employee incentive plans for employees
to purchase tickets, results that won't be seen "until later in
the drive" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/18).
