Franchise Notes

In L.A., Bill Shaikin reports court papers filed yesterday show that analysts think the Angels’ name change Scould cost the city of Anaheim almost $200[M] over the next decade and almost $400[M] through the expiration of the Angel Stadium lease in 2029.” The figures provide an “estimate of the damages the city might seek” when its trial against the team begins next week. The three analyses were provided by N.Y.-based sports marketing exec Arthur Adler, IEG Managing Dir of Sponsorship Services Laren Ukman and Smith College sports economist Andrew Zimbalist. Ukman said the city lost $33M in exposure last year, the team’s first under the new name (L.A. TIMES, 1/5).

STICK SAVE: In San Jose, Victor Chi reported the Sharks began an unadvertised promotion last month in which a Sharks player, when named as one of a game’s three stars, “gives an autographed souvenir stick to a kid in attendance.” The promo began after Sharks Dir of Fan Development Rob Jaynes read that Flames RW Darren McCarty would give his stick away when named one of the stars. Jaynes said, “That’s the one-on-one interaction we try to get whenever we can. And with the vibe it creates with the kid, it humanizes those guys” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/4).

NOTES: Suns F Amare Stoudemire has been named the team’s new NBPA rep. Stoudemire said, “I want to end up being a (union) president, too, as soon as I win a few championships” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/5)....AEG has received over 1,000 season-ticket deposits for the relocated MLS team in Houston (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/5).