In L.A., Bill Shaikin reports Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt and his ex-wife, Jamie, are "quietly working to settle their divorce." The court on Friday "postponed a scheduled April 11 hearing," moving it to May 11. The change "provides the parties additional time to focus on negotiating what would be a complex agreement to end contentious divorce proceedings that started during the 2009 postseason." It is "uncertain how the McCourts might settle their divorce, although Frank McCourt has maintained he would remain the sole owner of the Dodgers however the case was resolved" (L.A. TIMES, 3/30).
NUMBERS GAME: The PA reported EPL club Newcastle United has revealed a loss of $27.4M (all figures U.S.) "as a result of their relegation from the Premier League" after the '08-09 season. But the "drastic action" the club took to "address their financial situation in the face of a reduction in turnover of 39% -- from [$138M] during the year covering the 2008-09 season to [$84M] -- means their losses increased only slightly from" $24.4M. Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley "had to inject a further" $67.3M into the club "despite an increase in gate receipts as more than a million fans attended games at St James' Park." The latest figures "do not reflect Newcastle's return to the top flight at the end of last season, with promotion worth anything up to" $96M (PA, 3/30).
HOLDING STEADY: The CALGARY HERALD reported the Flames are "not raising season-ticket prices for next season -- or for this spring's playoffs." Flames President & CEO Ken King Monday "acknowledged the freeze," saying, "We felt we could have raised prices, but we opted not to." The Flames have "played to capacity -- 19,289 -- every home date" this season at the Scotiabank Saddledome (CALGARYHERALD.com, 3/29).
HEADING TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH: In Dallas, Mike Heika reports the Stars "will return to Prince Edward Island for training camp for a second season." After getting three days of practice in the province to start this season, the Stars "plan to extend that to four days starting Sept. 15." The Stars "for several seasons held training camp in Vail, Colo., but changed that practice when they moved their practice facility" to Frisco, Texas (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/30).
