Browns Owner Al Lerner officially closed on his $530M
purchase of the Browns franchise on Friday and he and team
President Carmen Policy "explained some early plans" for the
team, according to Patrick McManamon of the AKRON BEACON
JOURNAL. The team hopes to announce a ticket sales plan by
November 15 to sell the 20,000 remaining tickets at the
stadium, with "preference" given to Browns Backers groups.
The team will "withhold a small number of tickets for Browns
Backers groups nationwide," and have a special "community
section" offering low-priced seats. Policy: "It will be the
lowest-priced ticket in the NFL." Currently, the Seahawks
offer the lowest ticket price at $10. Policy also said that
the team will look to "ensure courteous behavior by all
fans" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/24).
PERSONNEL MOVES: The Browns officially named Kofi
Bonner as VP/CAO and former NFLP exec Billy Hampton as
Business Manager (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/24). Former
49ers exec Bruce Popko was named Dir of Marketing (PLAIN
DEALER, 10/24). Policy has also "lured" Lal Heneghan from
the NFL's Management Council to be Assistant Dir of Football
Operations and General Counsel. Heneghan will be the team's
"capologist" and handle legal matters (PLAIN DEALER, 10/25).