TEAM DEALS: VA business exec Peter Halpin "has emerged
as the most serious candidate" to take over operating rights
to DC United for $25-30M. A source calls Halpin "the
leader," with Placido Domingo and a Richmond-area group
among other "prospective bidders" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/27).
...In N.Y., Marc Berman wrote that an investment group led
by The Marquee Group President Bob Gutkowski "will sign a
letter of intent" to buy the Islanders, with a condition
that "the sale is void if the team does not reach a new-
arena deal" with Nassau County by a certain date (N.Y. POST,
4/24)....Steve Stone, a member of the Lyle Campbell-led
group seeking to buy the A's, said that his group "has no
intention" of moving the team. Stone: "If we wanted to
move, we have the funds to buy the Twins and move them to
Charlotte (NC) in 1 1/2 years" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/26).
MLB NOTES: Twins VP/Corporate Communications Dave St.
Peter said the team has sold 8,366 season tickets this
season, including "about" 3,600 of the $99 season tickets.
Last year, without the $99 package, the Twins sold 6,043
season tickets (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/26)....The White
Sox average attendance of 12,591 is last in MLB, but White
Sox manager Jerry Manuel said, "Our young men are doing
everything they can to relate to the fans. ... I see our
kids have gone out of their way to sign autographs, stay a
little longer and do different things" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
4/26)....The Cardinals-Dodgers three-game series drew
154,508, the highest three-game total at Dodger Stadium
since a '96 series against the Padres (L.A. TIMES, 4/26).
MORE NOTES: The NBA fined Jazz Owner Larry Miller
$10,000 for arguing with Blazers G Greg Anthony during
Friday night's game (See THE DAILY, 4/26) (USA TODAY, 4/27).
In Salt Lake, Loren Jorgensen wrote that if Miller "wants to
sit in the front row and heckle opposing players now and
again, let him." Jorgensen added that Miller has "earned
that right," because without him, "the Minnesota Jazz would
be heading into the final six games of the season right now.
... The Delta Center wouldn't exist" (DESERET NEWS,
4/26)....The Dolphins 53,200 season-ticket sales represents
a 95% renewal rate from last year (SUN-SENTINEL, 4/27).
