MLB: In N.Y., Richard Wilner reports that advance
ticket sales for the Cardinals-Mets series at Shea Stadium
this weekend are at about 118,400 (N.Y. POST, 8/20)....In
Fort Worth, Sean Wood writes that Rangers execs "are
scratching their heads" over the team's 5% attendance
decrease from last year despite having a better record this
season. The dropoff is being blamed on the schedule, which
has the team playing almost half of its home games in August
and September "when the weather is hottest and when the
children are back in school" (STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/20)....In
Detroit, Joe Falls speculates on Tigers ticket prices at
Comerica Park next season and writes that the cheapest seat
will be $9 in the bleachers. Falls: "That means it would
cost a family of four more than $50 to go to a game,
counting parking and concessions" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/20).
MORE NOTES: USA TODAY's Gordon Forbes writes that
Houston "now is favored to get an [NFL] expansion team by
2003" and that Marvin Davis' Hollywood Park site in L.A. is
the city's "last hope" (USA TODAY, 8/20)....In Pittsburgh,
David Brown wrote that the deal between prospective Penguins
Owner Mario Lemieux and Allegheny County officials regarding
paying off $50.9M in bond debt for past improvements at
Civic Arena has the city and county paying about $16.3M, the
team paying $1M, SMG $875,000 and the Regional Asset
District $32.6M (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/20)....In
Nashville, Central Parking Corp., which operates about 165
lots with about 31,000 spaces downtown, is charging people
who want to tailgate before Titans games "up to" $150 for
the season (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 8/20)....In DC, Thomas
Heath writes on traffic delays around Jack Kent Cooke
Stadium after Redskins games and notes that last year, "it
took an average of" 55-60 minutes "to clear" the stadium's
22,000 parking spaces after games. MD State Highway
Administration spokesperson David Buck: "There has to be a
certain amount of delay (fans) should accept. This isn't a
concert for 25,000. This is a major event for 75,000"
(WASHINGTON POST, 8/20)....The Sharks will begin their 3rd
annual Sharks Caravan through five different Northern CA
communities on August 23 and continue until August 27. The
tour, which will include appearances by Sharks players and
coaches, is an effort by the team to reach fans who don't
get to interact with the team (Sharks).
