Franchise Notes

Trail Blazers, Arena Owner Currently Reviewing Bids

In Portland, Helen Jung reports Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc., Rose Garden Owner Portland Arena Management (PAM) and their investment banker “are reviewing a crop of bids from prospective buyers” of the team and arena. Sources said that the bids, which were due last week, “include offers from inside and outside the Portland area.” The next step is for the club and PAM “to meet with individual bidders, exchange more detailed information and narrow down the list.” It is unknown how many bids there are or when a sale could occur (OREGONIAN, 8/3).

PURSUING ALL OPTIONS: Northland Investment CEO Lawrence Gottesdiener, who failed in his bid for the Penguins, said that he is “actively looking into two other hockey teams.” Gottesdiener: “We are still determined to bring NHL hockey back to Hartford.” He added that his work on the two teams, which he did not name, “is ‘preliminary’ and that he isn’t sure if either can be moved” (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/3).

FOLEY CASE SETTLED: In Minneapolis, Kevin Seifert cites sources as saying that the Vikings and former VP/Player Personnel Fran Foley have settled their grievance. Terms are still being finalized. Foley had almost $1M left on his contract when he was fired in May. The settlement means the NFL “will not carry through with plans for an arbitration hearing to determine whether the Vikings owed Foley the full remainder of his salary” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/3).