NHL: In Edmonton, local investors' pitch for C$14.2M
from the city council in exchange for 22% of the Oilers was
rejected by Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and the municipal
affairs minister "as against the rules." In addition, a top
NHL official said that the league "won't like" such a move
(EDMONTON SUN, 2/24)....The Sabres are looking into charging
current ticket prices "for a top draw -- and discount
tickets for lesser attractions" (THE SPORTING NEWS, 2/23
issue)....In Ottawa, an estimated 600 fans attended the
Senators' open practice Saturday (OTTAWA SUN, 2/22)....In
Calgary, more than 500 fans attended Skate with the Flames
Saturday, and proceeds from the skate and a C$100-a-plate
brunch totalled about C$15,000 (CALGARY SUN, 2/22).
NOTES: The U.S. national soccer team unveiled its new
World Cup uniforms Friday, and for the first time since the
early '50s, the U.S. will wear red jerseys on a regular
basis (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/21)....In MN, a bill
authorizing a $100M state loan to buy the Twins was approved
Monday by a House Government Operations subcommittee. The
bill faces "one or two" more committee votes before it would
get to the House floor (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/24).
Meanwhile, former West Publishing exec Vance Opperman said
that he thinks Twins Owner Carl Pohlad might end his
negotiations with NC businessman Don Beaver "as soon as the
March 31 deadline passes." Opperman: "I think it is a
distinct possibility that that falls apart" (PIONEER PRESS,
2/23)....In Chicago, Bulls Dir of Marketing Steve Schanwald,
on the demand for season tickets: "We have 25,000 names on
our season-ticket waiting list. ... We have 550,000 names in
a database that we have collected over the years of people
we have identified as potential Bulls ticket purchasers. ...
Once a season ticket-holder gives up the tickets, they are
not likely to ever get them back" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/23).
