The AFL "is attempting to place an expansion team" in
the DC area and "is focusing on" Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis
and Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder as potential owners,
according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. Capitals
Minority Owner Jon Ledecky met with AFL Commissioner David
Baker earlier this week but said that neither he nor Leonsis
"is interested in owning" an AFL franchise in the city.
Ledecky "indicated" that he expects the team to be owned by
Snyder. However, a league official said yesterday that
Ledecky and Leonsis, along with Snyder, are "possible owners
for the franchise," and Ledecky "recently wrote to Baker
expressing interest in buying a team." Ledecky noted that
due to the NFL's ownership option in the AFL, NFL owners are
being offered AFL franchises for $4M instead of the $8M
expansion fee for outside buyers. Leonsis: "I have no
interest in Arena League football right now. I have my
hands full right now" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/19).
AFL IN MOTOWN? In Grand Rapids, Gary Bond wrote that
the AFL "is expected to announce an 18th team soon" to begin
play in 2000, with Detroit a potential candidate. The
league "could grow to at least 20 teams by 2001," with
potential candidates being New Orleans, Chicago, San Diego,
Cleveland, Philadelphia and Jacksonville. But Grand Rapids
Rampage coach Michael Trigg said that he "wonders if the
league is expanding too quickly" (G. RAPIDS PRESS, 11/16).
OKLAHOMA O.K.: Portland Forest Dragons Owner Ed Gatlin
announced that the team will relocate to Oklahoma City and
begin play in the Myriad Convention Center next season. The
team, which will move into the new $86M, 20,000-seat MAPS
Arena in 2002, will choose its name from entries submitted
in a "Name the team" contest (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 11/18).
