In Calgary, Ethan Baron writes that the Flames "must
sell 794 season tickets by the end of the day on Friday to
meet the owners' do-or-die requirements of 14,000 tickets."
Owners plan to "sell the club if season ticket sales fall
short of that number." Flames Communications Dir Peter
Hanlon said the club's marketing reps are pursuing business
ticket sales (CALGARY SUN, 6/26). Also in Calgary, Eric
Francis writes, "Another embarrassing marketing gaffe by the
Flames saw the club use the draft podium Saturday to point
out to NHL officials the club needed" to reach its 14,000
ticket goal. The team "then aired a commercial on the
Jumbotron reiterating the same pathetic plea." Francis:
"Not the time and not the place" (CALGARY SUN, 6/26).
GET UP, STAND UP: In L.A., Randy Harvey wrote that "the
vast majority" of Lakers fans "have been shut out" of games
at Staples Center "because of exorbitant ticket prices."
Harvey: "If it wasn't apparent before how many shafted fans
[were upset by ticket prices], it certainly was on the
night" the Lakers won the NBA title, as fans rioted outside.
Harvey: "If more of the People had been inside the arena
Monday night, would there have still been a melee?" Lakers
Owner Jerry Buss should "make sure that there are more
reasonably priced seats so that fans in the middle or lower-
income levels do not feel shafted" (L.A. TIMES, 6/25).
NOTES: In Milwaukee, Dan Manoyan reported that the
Bucks have no immediate plans to land a WNBA team. Bucks
VP/Business Operations John Steinmiller: "Our highest
priority at the moment is building a strong foundation for
our NBA team. For the time being we are concentrating on
the Bradley Center renovation and rebuilding our season
ticket base after the walkout. There will be a time when
there will be a WNBA team in every NBA city, but that is
three or more years away" (MIL. JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/24).
...FSN's Tracy Ringolsby: "Look for [Cubs RF Sammy Sosa] to
go to Toronto. ... Owners for Toronto have the team for
sale, but they feel they can increase the value of that team
if they go ahead and win the division" ("Baseball Today,"
FSN, 6/23)....In Birmingham, Clyde Bolton quotes AL Sports
Foundation Exec Dir Gene Hallman as saying that the XFL will
announce Birmingham, Orlando, Las Vegas, S.F., L.A. and N.Y.
as its six other inaugural markets, joining Chicago and
Memphis. But Bolton wrote, "My guess is the XFL won't fly
in Birmingham. ... Who wants to be in Legion Field on a cold
Saturday night in February or March?" (BIRM. NEWS, 6/25).
...In Seattle, Ron Judd wrote on the Sonics lowering ticket
prices on seven of the 12 price levels at KeyArena next
season: "What we have here is a positive example of what can
happen when fans vote with their feet" (SEA. TIMES, 6/25).
