Flyers and 76ers Chair Ed Snider "has expressed serious
interest" in buying the Vikings, according to Tim Panaccio
of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Snider: "It's an exploratory
type of thing that I wanted to keep private, but somehow
it's come out." Snider and a group of associates met with a
committee of Vikings owners last week and "made a favorable
impression." One NFL Owner said Tuesday that "he and other
team owners were excited at the prospect of Snider's joining
the league." Snider said his group, "which has not made an
offer, would keep the Vikings where they are," and added
that he did not plan to sell his interest in either of his
Philadelphia franchises (PHILA. INQUIRER, 1/15).
SELLS SMG STAKE: Snider also said that, despite
speculation, he has no interest in managing the Metrodome.
Snider has sold his one-third interest in Spectacor
Management Group for an undisclosed price to his two
partners, the Pritzker family of Chicago and Aramark. Part
of the deal included a non-compete clause with SMG that
"forbids him from being involved in stadium/facility
management" for two years. CoreStates Center CEO Peter
Luukko accompanied Snider to Minneapolis (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 1/15). In St. Paul, Charley Walters notes a
"reliable" Vikings source as saying that Snider is the "best
prepared and researched among the six prospective Vikings
buyers to bid for the team." Walters adds that one of
Snider's partners in a Vikings purchase could be Hyatt Corp.
Chair Tom Pritzker (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/15).
