Minnesota Wild officials released a partial list of the
team's investors and details of its business plan to
legislators yesterday, in "an effort to quell suspicions
about its financial dealings," according to Brown & Whereatt
of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The disclosures came after
State Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe asked a legislative
committee to investigate arrangements between the Wild and
the city of St. Paul to see if "the process up to now has
been a legally defensible one." Wild CEO Jac Sperling said
that he "will meet" with committee members, and the team is
"expected" to hold a news conference today "to discuss the
documents." Documents released show the team's average
ticket for the 2000 season will cost $40, with club seats
costing "as much as" $65; by 2004, the average ticket price
will be $54.33. Also, the team "has reduced" its projected
attendance numbers from 16,650 to 15,770, 83% capacity of
the planned arena, and the team is predicting a positive
cash flow of "more than" $2M each year (STAR TRIBUNE, 3/20).
