Franchise Notes

Bills Have Slightly More Than 100 Sponsors This Season, Including New Sponsor Sanyo

BUSINESS FIRST OF BUFFALO's James Fink reports the Bills "remain healthy" heading into the '09 season in terms of "sponsors, suites and sales of premium seats and season tickets." Bills Senior VP/Business Development Bruce Popko said that the team this year has "slightly more than 100 sponsors" covering its regular season and training camp at St. John Fisher College, compared to 120 sponsors last year. But Popko added that while the number has dropped, the "dollars generated from those corporate partners has remained the same." The team added sponsors including the Buffalo Athletic Club, New Era Cap Co. and Sanyo Electronics. Meanwhile, the team "sold 55,194 season tickets this year, down just 1.45[%] from the 56,011 sold in 2008 and third best in the 50-year history of the franchise" (BUSINESS FIRST OF BUFFALO, 9/11 issue).

STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: In Columbus, Tom Reed reported Blue Jackets officials Sunday confirmed that the team "has increased its season-ticket base for the first time since" the '01-02 season. The Blue Jackets "have sold more than 10,000 subscriptions coming off their first playoff appearance," and Blue Jackets President Mike Priest "believes reaching a goal of 12,000 season tickets is attainable for future seasons if the team continues to improve." The team also has "maintained the same level of corporate sponsorship from last season" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 9/14).

GREAT MESS: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun wrote Coyotes Managing Partner & coach Wayne Gretzky is "doing the right thing by staying away until his role with the club is ironed out," but it is "sickening to see the game's greatest all-time player left twisting in the wind while the Phoenix Coyotes' ownership mess waits to be decided." Former Coyotes Senior Advisor to the GM John Muckler is "another victim of the Coyotes' situation," as the team "quietly informed Muckler this summer that he would not be back." Muckler: "There's no money there right now." Meanwhile, LeBrun gave credit to Coyotes GM Don Maloney for "keeping his wits throughout all this," as he has "made do with very little financial flexibility" (ESPN.com, 9/14).