The Patriots-Cowboys American Bowl '98 drew 106,424 at
Mexico City's Azteca Stadium last night. It did not top the
record of 112,376 for the Oilers-Cowboys game in Mexico City
in '94, but it did mark the second-largest crowd in NFL
history (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/18). Fans paid 360 pesos
for a ticket, or roughly $40 (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/18).
CANADIAN BACON: In Vancouver, B.C. Lions Owner David
Braley said his CFL team made about C$200,000 from its
promotion of the American Bowl between the 49ers-Seahawks.
Braley, asked if the NFL could work in Vancouver: "That's a
long, long way away -- if at all. I can't see it in the
foreseeable future" (Mike Beamish, VANCOUVER SUN, 8/17).
CORPORATE SPEAK, NFL STYLE: BLOOMBERG's Curtis
Eichelberger writes that as the NFL's franchise values
"leaps higher, some owners say it's only a matter of time
before the league drops its ban of corporations and welcomes
big companies, just as the other major North American sports
leagues do." The issue is a "hot topic now" because of the
competition for the Browns. Packers CEO Bob Harlan: "I
think the more you discuss (corporate ownership) the more
probable it becomes. On the other hand, I think people who
have been in this league a very long time are comfortable
with the system and would be leery giving up control to a
publicly traded company." Some owners feel there are enough
individuals who are willing to invest in teams. Saints
Owner Tom Benson: "We don't seem to have a problem coming up
with buyers so far" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 8/18)....In the
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Daniel Kaplan writes that a source
"familiar" with the NFL said the move to increase the debt
limit on individual franchises from $75M to $100M was "made
possible" after the Saints' Benson was replaced by Patriots
Owner Robert Kraft as head of the league's Finance
Committee. Kaplan: "Faced with a surge in player signing
bonuses, experts said, teams' need for upfront capital is
growing" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/17 issue).
