Pirates Owner Kevin McClatchy "expects" the team will
lose money in 2000, according to Suzanne Elliott of the
PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES. McClatchy: "We anticipate making
money in 2001, the year we move into PNC Park. But, we've
made money two out of the last three years. That's a claim
that not too many teams in baseball can make." While the
team's season-ticket sales are expected to reach 12,300,
McClatchy said, "We can have three players break their legs
and all of a sudden our attendance is much different than
what we thought it would be. It's a very fluid business"
(PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES, 3/6 issue).
CHANGE IN MLB STRUCTURE TO AID DC-VA BID? In DC, Eric
Fisher writes that the recent "dissolution" of the MLB NL
and AL offices has "opened an avenue that eventually could
bring" a team to the DC area. In the past, DC's "pursuit of
a team has centered on" the NL because Orioles Owner Peter
Angelos "held the power to single-handedly veto the move" of
any AL team within 100 miles of Baltimore. But Fisher notes
that the two leagues are now one entity and their separate
bylaws "have been replaced by a single MLB constitution."
As a result, any franchise move now requires only three-
fourths approval of MLB owners (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/10).
