Franchise Notes

In Oakland, Robert Gammon wrote the A's are "enjoying their best year at the box office" since '93 and notes the team is on pace to top the two-million mark in attendance for the first time in eight years. A's President Mike Crowley said, "We're right on track — our goal was 2 million. The second half of the year — if we get into the race — we should do well" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 7/10)....Former Hornets President Spencer Stolpen writes an Op-Ed in today's CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and notes the major source of funding for a new Charlotte arena should come from "those who use or benefit from such a facility." Stolpen: "If the Hornets are valuable to this community (I can't imagine anyone saying otherwise), and the city and the team need a new facility ... then how do we get it done with as little pain as possible?" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/11)....MLS Senior Dir of Operations Brad Pursel said that almost 14,000 seats in San Jose's 26,000-seat Spartan Stadium have been sold for the July 28 MLS All-Star game (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/11).