The vote to "determine the official transfer" of
Grizzlies ownership from John McCaw to Bill Laurie on
October 29 "could well be made with a precondition that
ensures" the team remains in Vancouver, according to sources
of Howard Tsumura of the Vancouver PROVINCE. Tsumura cited
sources as saying that the Maloof Family's "final approval"
of ownership to the Kings came with a precondition that
"prohibits ownership from applying for a franchise
relocation" for a time frame between 10-15 years. The NBA
Board of Governors may "apply those terms" to keep the
Grizzlies in Vancouver in the "foreseeable future"
(Vancouver PROVINCE, 10/10). CBS SportsLine's Mike Kahn
wondered whether Laurie will "be given the option of an
expansion team for the 2001-2002 season if the Grizzlies
don't move?" One NBA league source, on the Grizzlies:
"Obviously, there is a problem when a team is averaging
17,000 a game and can't make money. Will the rest of the
league subsidize the team in Vancouver if it's doomed to
fail financially? There are some owners who want to make it
work. [NBA Commissioner] David [Stern] wants to make it
work. But will that be enough?" (CBS SportsLine, 10/11).
JAZZ: In UT, Zack Van Eyck reported on the Jazz and
Delta Center's new ticketing deal with Ticketmaster. Jazz
Senior VP/Marketing Jay Francis called Ticketmaster the
"best choice for the team and its arena": "If you'd asked me
two years ago, 'What are the possibilities of you being with
Ticketmaster?' I would have said there's no way. They were
kind of arrogant. ... They've made some changes to ownership
and management changes that are very positive. They're
committed to the technology and to improving and upgrading."
The Jazz are the 27th NBA team to sign with Ticketmaster,
which has provided the Delta Center with new computer
software for ticket sales/distribution (DESERET NEWS, 10/9).
TICKET SALES: In Akron, Chris Tomasson reported that
the Cavaliers are "nowhere near" last year's total of 9,500
season tickets. Cavaliers President & CEO Jim Boland:
"We've got our work cut out for us, but that was to be
expected" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/10).....Wizards execs
said that season ticket sales have "dropped" from 8,000 to
6,400 this season. Wizards Owner Abe Pollin: "I think some
fans have been disappointed in us the last couple of years,
and frankly I don't blame them" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/10).
