Franchise Notes

Chiefs Change Wording In "Fan Code Of Conduct"

In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan wrote the Chiefs’ “Fan Code of Conduct,” which is posted on the team’s Web site, had stated that Arrowhead Stadium staff “will proactively intervene with fans who are ‘standing and/or obstructing the view of other fans.’” However, the Chiefs "apparently have obliged about the wording of the code, which now reads ‘continuous standing and/or obstructing the view of other fans’” (K.C. STAR, 7/4). Chiefs Dir of Stadium Operations Steve Schneider “blamed a ‘hiccup’ in the dissemination of the policy for the misunderstanding.” Schneider said that “there was never any intent to keep fans in a sedentary state.” Schneider: “If any of them looked at that and said the team is saying, 'Get in here and sit on your hands,' that’s not the case” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/6).

BAYOU BOOM: In New Orleans, John Reid wrote the Hornets “will not offer 10- or 15-game mini-season-ticket plans in the lower bowl at the New Orleans Arena” for the ’08-09 NBA season. The packages “will be available only in the upper-level sections because the Hornets have experienced a surge in season-ticket sales.” The team currently has nearly 10,000 season-ticket holders, and only 400 seats remain in the lower bowl. Hornets President Hugh Weber said that there are 5,000 new season-ticket holders, and 90% of ticket holders from last season have renewed. The Hornets had not had 10,000 season-ticket holders since arriving from Charlotte in ’02. Reid noted, “With that kind of surge expected to carry over next season, it is likely the franchise will meet” the average attendance of 14,735 required through the ’08-09 season to fulfill the team’s lease. The Hornets ranked 26th in the NBA in attendance for the ’07-08 season, with an average of 14,181 (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/4).

NOTES: The Twins, through their first 47 home games this season, have drawn 1,179,618 fans, down from 1,341,378 a year ago. However, because the club raised ticket prices, the Twins were up $801,358.40 in gross ticket revenue for the months of March, April and May. Gross ticket revenue for those three months this season was $17,510,635.40, up from $16,703,277 during the same period last season. The Twins sold 740,092 tickets for the first three months of this season, compared with 789,730 for the same time period last season (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/4)….The Titans recently notified the NFL of their decision to switch their primary jersey to light blue after having worn navy since ’99. The team plans to wear light blue for all of its home games with the exception of the August 9 preseason game against the Rams and the November 23 regular-season game against the Jets, when they will wear navy. The team’s primary road jersey will remain white (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/5).