The NFL owners meetings begin today in New Orleans. Major
issues on the agenda are expected to include cross-ownership and
the awarding of Super Bowls in '99 and 2000.
CROSS-OWNERSHIP: Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD reports
owners will "discuss -- and possibly approve -- softening or
eliminating the rule preventing one individual from having
controlling interest in more than one sports team." Jackson
notes a revision in the policy would allow Wayne Huizenga to
continue to own the Dolphins, Marlins and Panthers (MIAMI HERALD,
10/30). 49ers President Carmen Policy: "I think it's time for
us to give it the nod." Pats Owner Bob Kraft: "I think we
should first understand what our legal ground is" (Gordon Forbes,
USA TODAY, 10/30). Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said he is
"generally not opposed" to cross-ownership, noting he thinks the
"time has come" because teams require "so much capital" (Josie
Karp, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/30).
SUPER BOWL: Miami and Atlanta are expected to vie for the
'99 Super Bowl, according to Gordon Forbes of USA TODAY. Forbes
writes that while the "early line" favored South FL, Atlanta has
made the "biggest surge" and the game is now considered a "toss-
up." Tampa Bay, Arizona and the loser of the '99 game will
compete for the 2000 game, with Tampa and its proposed new $168M
stadium considered the favorite. Tampa's bid is "tangled" in a
lawsuit, filed by former Tampa Mayor Bill Poe, concerning the use
of public funds to pay for a new Bucs stadium (USA TODAY,
10/30). Even though legal matters have yet to be resolved in
Tampa, Pat Yasinskas of the TAMPA TRIBUNE reports the city could
be awarded the game on a "conditional basis" -- that would be
contingent upon Poe's lawsuit being defeated or dropped by a
certain date (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/30).
L.A.'S PITCH: A L.A. delegation, led by Councilperson Mark
Ridley-Thomas and "driven by a united political-civic-business
consortium," will try to convince the NFL stadium committee,
chaired by Panther's Owner Jerry Richardson, that pro football
should return to a $230M new Coliseum and redeveloped area (T.J.
Simers, L.A. TIMES, 10/30).
OTHER ISSUES: The elimination of two exhibition games and
the adoption of an 18-game regular season "appears to be gaining
support," according to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD. But no
vote is scheduled on the issue for the meetings. (MIAMI HERALD,
10/30). The owners will also hear a report from Commissioner
Paul Tagliabue on the preseason instant-replay experiment (Gordon
Forbes, USA TODAY, 10/30).
