Whether Marlins President Don Smiley will be able to
raise enough money to buy the team "could hinge partly on
the owners of WQAM, the team's flagship radio station,"
according to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD. MLB sources
said that WQAM Owners Greg Reed and George Beasley are in
negotiations to join Smiley's investment group but have not
made a final decision. In exchange for investing about
$15M, Reed and Beasley "are believed to be asking for a
reduction" in the rights fee the station pays the Marlins.
WQAM is in the second year of a five-year, $15M deal. A
contract extension with WQAM -- at a reduced rate -- "is
also possible." Jackson reported that investments from Reed
and Beasley could give Smiley around $150M in commitments,
and team Owner Wayne Huizenga "might be willing to keep" a
$15M investment to get the deal done. Reed has previously
expressed interest in investing in Smiley's bid, and Jackson
wrote that Smiley "might be more receptive now because he is
desperately seeking capital to buy the team." Smiley
declined comment (Barry Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 6/28).
MLB NOTES: The Marlins announced that anyone with a
paid ticket to Saturday's game can exchange the ticket or
used stub for a free ticket to any remaining home game this
season. The gesture was made in appreciation for fans'
continued support (Fort Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 6/28). In
Boston, Gordon Edes wrote that the ticket offer "barely drew
a ripple from the crowd" of 31,212 (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/28).
MARRIOTT EYES PANTHER HOLDINGS? Sources in Miami say
that Marriott hotels is one of the suitors "that's had a
recent look" at Huizenga's publicly-traded Florida Panthers
Holdings. Marriott is reportedly interested in FPH's "high-
profile" hotel properties (MIAMI HERALD, 6/29).
