In Buffalo, John Vogl reports Sabres Owner Terry Pegula, his wife, Kim, daughter Jessie, and team President Ted Black made "extra-special deliveries" yesterday, bringing tickets to fans' homes. Eight Sabres players also "split into teams of two and climbed into four limos for their visits throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario." Season-ticket holders were "advised in advance by the Sabres to be home or in the office for VIP treatment." The idea of "having team members personally deliver ducats has grown in recent years," and the Penguins "played mailman this week for the fifth straight season" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/15).
FIRING SQUAD: In N.Y., Jeré Longman cites financial experts as saying that EPL club Arsenal's "failure to qualify" for next season's UEFA Champions League could cost the team $50M or more in revenue. And fans fear it would "become even more difficult to attract and keep top players." A number of fans "have expressed puzzlement about" Arsenal Owner Stan Kroenke, whose "vast wealth is matched by his reticence." Arsenal's supporters "long to ask Kroenke familiar questions asked when someone else's money is on the line: Does [manager Arsène] Wenger have a sufficient budget to spend on players or is he hesitant to spend it? What are Kroenke's intentions? Does he want Arsenal to be a champion or a cash machine? Both?" Kroenke has said that he "invested in Arsenal for the long haul and has every intention of trying to win championships" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/15).
THE LIONS' SHARE: In Detroit, Carlos Monarrez reports the Lions "reached a sellout for Sunday's home opener against Kansas City and avoided their first blackout on local television since last year's game" against the Redskins. The Lions have "sold out six straight regular season games." Lions President Tom Lewand said that the club "had almost a 25 rating in the local TV market for Bucs game" last weekend, the "highest since Steve Mariucci made his debut as a Lions coach" in '03 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/15).
THE WORST IS YET TO COME? The Twins currently have the second-worst record in MLB at 59-89 after winning the AL Central last year. MLB Network's Matt Vasgersian said attendance "is always kind of retroactive to the previous year," so the Twins' record "has not hurt them at the gate this year." However, it will be "curious to see how fans respond in 2012.” Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said, “They do expect it’s going to be a problem, and they’ve even seen some empty seats toward the end of this season." Rosenthal: "They’ve had half their minor league club on the Major League roster because of injuries and that. They have some real challenges ahead, there’s no question” (“MLB Tonight Live,” MLB Network, 9/14).
