NBA: In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell, on the city's new
arena proposal: "By suggesting the city might pay up-front
costs (if the Hornets pay it back in rent), Charlotte has
called the team's bluff: 'Want to leave? Fine,' the city
essentially said, 'but you'll look like the jerks, not us.'
If the Hornets choose to relocate, they'll have to justify
that decision to the NBA. ... If [co-Owner Ray] Wooldridge
doesn't make a deal under this model, the Hornets will look
like the bad guys" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/10)....In San
Antonio, William Pack wrote that Bexar County Commissioners
have "learned that lower-than-expected interest rates on
bonds" to build the SBC Center will lower the county's total
cost of the arena from $260M to $210M (EXPRESS-NEWS, 12/9).
NFL: In Chicago, Don Pierson wrote that the Bears
"never seriously considered" a one-year return to Wrigley
Field for the 2002 season while Soldier Field is under
renovation, as Wrigley's capacity of less than 50,000 "would
not meet NFL standards or accommodate their season-ticket
base." Bears Dir of Business Operations Jim Miller: "I was
also told we would have a hard time fitting a football field
in there" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/10)....In N.Y., Saul Hansell
examined the state of CMGI, which has a reported $112M, 15-
year naming rights deal at the Patriots' new stadium in
Foxboro. CMGI is closing "units, laying off employees and
facing tough questions about the viability of the business
behind the flashing lights and new-economy rhetoric. ...
Former employees say [the Patriots deal] was made largely to
drive up the stock price, because none of the company's
consumer businesses use the CMGI name. As the year wore on,
operating problems increased, especially as the market
weakened for Internet advertising" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/10).
