In Buffalo, Jim Kelley wrote on reports that the Sabres
may be in talks on possibly shortening the team's original
lease deal at HSBC Arena from the original 30-year pact
"down to five years, maybe even one." Kelley: "The lease on
HSBC was actually designed to keep the tenant in it for
almost as long as it would take to pay off the building. It
was the hole card for the money the good citizens of Western
New York put up to help get it built." Kelley, on the Rigas
family which owns the team: "One can't help but be very much
aware that they have a larger, more lucrative cable
television market ... down the road in Cleveland. They also
have an on-record interest in buying the [IHL] Cleveland
Lumberjacks and have made serious inquiries in that regard."
Erie County has a "lengthy lease that is already in writing.
What I can't quite understand is why anyone is so quick to
want to give that away" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/14).
SIGN YOUR NAME ACROSS MY HEART: In Milwaukee, Don
Walker wrote that "more than" 1,000 supporters were at
Lambeau Field on Saturday as WI Gov. Tommy Thompson signed
the stadium renovation bill into law. The law enables Brown
County residents to enact a 0.5% sales tax to help fund the
project. The team has also asked NFL Films to prepare a 15-
minute Packers' highlight film "to show at public meetings
over the stadium debate" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/13).
In Green Bay, Thomas Content wrote while estimates of the
size of the crowd on Saturday varied, the team said that it
"gave away 750 pens commemorating the occasion." Fans
entering the stadium also received postage-paid postcards
"asking whether they would volunteer to put up yard signs,
make phone calls or volunteer for other tasks to help pass"
the referendum (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 5/14).
NOTES: In Detroit, Mark Puls wrote that fans at
Comerica Park are saying that "service had improved" since
Opening Day (DETROIT NEWS, 5/14)....In Philadelphia, Les
Bowen writes that "some fans have questioned whether the
'block party' held in the parking lot" at First Union Center
before most Flyers and 76ers home playoff games "contributes
to drunkenness and bad behavior" that has occurred at some
recent playoff games. Comcast-Spectacor Ventures President
Peter Luukko: "I don't think that has anything to do with
it. At that Sixers game last week, there was no block
party, because of the weather. If you go out and watch
those things, it's mostly kids shooting baskets and things
like that" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/15).
