Franchise Notes

Lakers Have Highest Season-Ticket Renewal Rate In League At 98%

In L.A., Bresnahan & Turner report the Lakers have "hit an impressive 98%" for season-ticket renewals for the '09-10 season, down from 99% last season, but still the "highest renewal rate in the league." The league average is 75%. While the team "typically raises ticket prices" 5-7% each year, the Lakers "did not raise ticket prices for the upcoming season" (L.A. TIMES, 10/12).

NARROWING THE FIELD: In Ft. Worth, Jeff Wilson reported the number of bidders for the Rangers "has been pared in half to three" -- Pittsburgh sports attorney Chuck Greenberg, White Sox Special Assistant to the Chair and former MLB agent Dennis Gilbert and Crane Worldwide Logistics Founder Jim Crane. Wilson writes Greenberg, "considered by some to be the front-runner," has the "one thing that the other two potential owners don't: the interest" of Rangers President Nolan Ryan. Ryan under Greenberg's bid "would maintain his role as team president while adding the role of minority owner" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/10).

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: On Long Island, Arthur Staple wrote Islanders Owner Charles Wang is "doing the right thing by laying low" on his proposed Lighthouse project, as the "next few weeks are about getting things done behind the scenes," whether with the Town of Hempstead or someone else. Staple: "To do otherwise would play more games with fans who have already been toyed with plenty. The games involve the team that this whole fight is about. It's been easy to lose sight of that" (NEWSDAY, 10/10).