Franchise Notes

Many See Jocketty As Candidate For Pirates CEO Position

In Pittsburgh, Paul Meyer reports Cardinals Senior VP & GM Walt Jocketty “has surfaced with greater frequency than other names when industry sources are asked about potential Pirate CEO candidates” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/3).

ON SECOND THOUGHT: The Trail Blazers’ secondary ticket market deal with StubHub expired after last season, and Trail Blazers Senior VP/Marketing & Sales Sarah Mensah said that the team “is looking hard at paperless services that allow season ticket holders to resell, transfer or auction tickets electronically.” Mensah: “We’re very, very interested. It’s an area where teams haven’t had a whole lot of control” (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/3).

GROUP DECISION: An eight-member committee of T’Wolves execs discussed the team’s future during five meetings over the six weeks leading up to the trade of F Kevin Garnett to the Celtics. T’Wolves Owner Glen Taylor: “Everyone came to the same conclusion; it wasn’t a one-man decision. We all pitched in and wrote viewpoints. We talked about what had happened the last three years. ... I know that this was the right decision” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/3).

KEEP THE FAITH: USL Rochester Rhinos President Frank DuRoss said that the franchise remains “in the running to land the final spot” in the Women’s Soccer Initiative, a new women’s soccer league planning to launch by April. The league has commitments from Boston, Chicago, Dallas, L.A., New York-New Jersey, St. Louis and DC. DuRoss: “We’re one of the cities they’re hoping to get.” Other potential markets are Atlanta and K.C. (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 8/3).