BuytheJets.com, an Internet site launched by a group
seeking to acquire the Jets, said that it had received
pledges totaling $17.5M from "about" 8,000 people.
BuytheJets.com co-founder John Crotty: "If the NFL agrees to
send us the proper financial documents to create an official
bid, there is no doubt we can make this happen"
(BuytheJets.com). Crotty said that sale manager Goldman
Sachs "has had 'preliminary contacts'" with the group about
a potential Jets bid (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/21)....Expos
Minority Owner Mark Routtenberg dismissed speculation that
Jeffrey Loria is having second thoughts about investing in
the Expos: "He wants everyone to know he's in Montreal and
he's here to stay" (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/18)....NHL Panthers
President Bill Torrey "acknowledged" that there "has been a
significant drop-off from the almost 16,000 season tickets
sold last year." Noting the team's move from Miami to
Broward County, Torrey said, "In all new buildings, you get
a certain drop-off" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL,
9/18)....In Ottawa, Lisa Burke wrote that the Ottawa
Senators Foundation will be the presenting sponsor for
Senators games in '99-2000 (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 9/17)....The
Twins raised ticket prices "on almost every seat in the
Metrodome" by $1. However, $4 upper deck general admission
seats "remain unchanged for 2000 and are among the cheapest
seats in baseball" (STAR TRIBUNE, 9/18)....The Flyers will
play their AHL club, the Phantoms, at the First Union
Spectrum tonight. The game is an "add-on" game that is
being played "for one, singular purpose -- to benefit Polina
Tertyshny, wife of the late Flyers defensemen Dmitri
Tertyshny," and their unborn son (PHILA. INQUIRER, 9/21).
