Franchise Notes

AEG COO Scott Blackmun said that the company “will make a decision on what to do with the [MLS] Earthquakes within the next month. Blackmun said that AEG “has ‘not eliminated any possibilities,’ including retaining ownership of the Earthquakes and either moving them or keeping them in San Jose.” He added that AEG has “not been approached by any San Jose-based investor group” (Dylan Hernandez, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/27).

MEDICAL CLEARANCE: The NFL Cardinals have moved their training camp from Northern Arizona Univ to Prescott, Arizona after an outbreak of norovirus occurred on campus (Cardinals). In Phoenix, Kent Somers notes the school and the city “will take an economic hit” from the move, as the team pays NAU about $425,000 annually to use the school’s facilities. Cardinals VP/Football Operations Rod Graves said that there “will be no financial settlement” because the “circumstances were beyond both parties’ control” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/27).

HOW ABOUT SOME TEA? In London, Dart & Jacob report Chelsea Chair Bruce Buck met new Manchester United Owners Joel, Avram and Bryan Glazer last month in London. Buck: “The meeting was to say hello and to welcome a new chairman and owner of a fellow Premier League club. We talked about areas that might be of common interest to both clubs, exchanged ideas and offered to answer any questions they might have about football or the Premier League.” There has been some concern the Glazers would attempt to break from the Premier League’s TV contract, and Buck added, “During the meeting I reaffirmed our backing for the Premier League’s collective TV deal” (LONDON TIMES, 7/27).