Franchise Notes

In DC, Mark Zuckerman writes the Nationals have “sliced their major league payroll nearly in half” since the Lerner family bought the team, and they are “likely to rank among [MLB’s] lowest-spending teams” in ‘07. The team appears “destined to finish last in the NL East for the fourth straight season,” but after it moves into its new ballpark in ’08, the club is “likely to start spending more money” on payroll. Nationals President Stan Kasten said, “Everything we do is with that goal in mind” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/15).

DC UNITED: MLS Commissioner Don Garber said AEG’s sale of United “is nearly complete.” He added that he talked to members of the investor group, which reportedly includes Grizzlies suitor Brian Davis and Discovery Communications Founder & Chair John Hendricks. Meanwhile, United President Kevin Payne said that plans for a new stadium in Anacostia “remain on course, with a targeted opening date of 2009” (WASHINGTON POST, 12/15).

REAL SALT LAKE: MLS claims Real Salt Lake (RSL) averaged 16,366 fans per game this season, but documents released by the club this week show it drew less than 10,000 paying fans per game. RSL officials said that the higher figures include “promotions and giveaways,” and a league document shows one in five tickets to games in ’05 were comps. MLS President Mark Abbott said that league policy “is to base announced attendance on the number of tickets distributed.” RSL predicts nearly 12,000 paying fans per game in ’07, and over 15,400 with the new stadium in ’08 (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/15).

CROCE: Former 76ers Owner Pat Croce appeared Thursday night on CBS’ “Late Late Show,” where host Craig Ferguson, commenting on the recent poor play of the Croce’s old team, said, “Maybe you should get back there.” Croce: “That’s what I think Philadelphia would like.” But when pressed by Ferguson as to whether he would deviate from his current business endeavors and buy back the Sixers, Croce said, “I’m not saying anything” (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 12/15).