In L.A., Tim Kawakami reports that in the 48 hours
after the Lakers announced the signing of coach Phil
Jackson, "the Staples Center experienced a big rush for
luxury suites and season tickets." The arena sold four
suites priced between $197,000-300,000 and 60 Premier seats,
which start at $12,800 (L.A. TIMES, 6/18)....The average
spending per person on food and drinks at the Alamodome
during Spurs playoff games this year has been $3.72, down
from the $5.01 spent during the regular season. With
Wednesday's Game One attendance of 39,514, concession
revenue totals about $146,992 (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS,
6/18).....Delaware North Co. said it will relocate its
headquarters, but remain in Buffalo, NY. There was
speculation that the company was looking to move out of the
state, and Boston "was rumored to be a likely site for the
move" (AP/BOSTON HERALD, 6/17)....In Boston, Steve Bailey
looks at the list of luxury suite buyers for the Patriots
new stadium and writes, "At least as interesting as who is
buying is who is not." The "tech companies and Boston's big
mutual fund houses are notably absent," including John
Hancock, Liberty Mutual and Citizens Bank (BOSTON GLOBE,
6/18)....A community forum last night on the prospect of a
St. Paul riverfront Twins ballpark was "transformed, for a
while, into a community free-for-all," as St. Paul Mayor
Norm Coleman and two stadium consultants were "interrupted,
shouted down and booed by about 80 demonstrators and
hecklers." Among the "angry" words: "You've come for our
money!" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/18).
