A press release posted yesterday on the SkyDome's Web
site announced the termination of Sportsco Founder &
President Lawrence Dale. No successor has been named, and
Sportsco partners Harvey Walken and Alan Cohen will serve as
co-CEOs (THE DAILY). In Toronto, Gayle MacDonald reports
that Dale's dismissal is a move sources say "intended to
sweeten" Sportsco's chances of buying a stake in the Blue
Jays. Dale could not be reached for comment, but his
attorney Alan Lenczner said he would be "seeking to enforce
all of Mr. Dale's entitlements under his employment contract
and partnership interests." Sources said that Dale holds
between 5-10% of Sportsco. A SkyDome source said that Dale
was "widely recognized as a stumbling block" to Sportsco's
Blue Jays bid. In addition to Dale's dismissal, sources say
that Sportsco partner Pat Gillick "is unsure of his status"
in the group (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/27). In Toronto, Mike
Ganter: "It's no secret Dale had not endeared himself to
Interbrew SA. ... Dale also had conflicts with the Blue Jays
front office during his days as general counsel for the
SkyDome" (TORONTO SUN, 5/27). Also in Toronto, Tony Van
Alphen notes a source who said that Dale "balked at selling
his stake" in Sportsco in "tense meetings" last week, and
"turned the tables" on Walken and Cohen by proposing to buy
them out (TORONTO STAR, 5/27).
MILSTEIN ON DECK? Meanwhile, Howard Milstein continues
to negotiate with Labatt on a Blue Jays deal. Labatt
spokesperson James Villeneuve said that "negotiations are
well underway," and that Labatt "is now waiting for the term
sheets" from Milstein (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/27).
