The ABL held a news conference in Philadelphia with
Mayor Ed Rendell to formally announce that the Rage will
play at UPenn's Palestra beginning this October, according
to Mel Greenberg of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. ABL CEO Gary
Cavalli also said that Temple's new Apollo arena, scheduled
to open in December, would hold three or four games. The
Rage's ticket prices will average $11. Greenberg reports
that the ABL is currently involved in "talks" with Fox about
a national broadcast TV deal and that Comcast "has also
expressed an interest in a local TV package." Greenberg
adds the "move also improves the league's ability to" keep G
Dawn Staley, who is from Philadelphia, and is "coveted by
the WNBA." Cavalli said the league is trying to re-sign
Staley to a long-term deal (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/22).
KICKING THE SIXERS WHEN THEY'RE DOWN? Philadelphia
Mayor Rendell, at the ABL news conference: "It's great to
have a pro basketball team" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/22).
76ers President Pat Croce said the Rage move "doesn't affect
our plans. I've said all along that we had to get our own
house in order first, in terms of winning, in terms of our
fans" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/22).
NASHVILLE BOUND? Cavalli said that an "interested
investor (who at present wishes to remain anonymous) has
approached the ABL about placing" a team in Nashville.
Cavalli: "We are in the beginning stages of looking at
Nashville for the 1998-99 year" (NASHVILLE BANNER, 7/21).
